Preview - Rubin Kazan
WHUFC.com
Hammers face second match in consecutive days and take on Rubin Kazan
Slaven Bilic's men looking for first win on Austria tour
Havard Nordtveit and Aaron Cresswell set for run-outs
When and where?
West Ham United v Rubin Kazan (RUS)
Pre-season match
Wednesday 20 July 2016, 6pm CEST (5pm BST)
Arena Krottendorf, Energiestraße 1, 8160 Preding
What's the story?
It's a quick return to action for the Hammers when they follow Tuesday's 2-2 draw with FC Slovacko by taking on Russian side Rubin Kazan on Wednesday evening. West Ham looked well on course for a first victory of pre-season on Tuesday, leading the Czech outfit 2-0 thanks to goals from Mark Noble and Ashley Fletcher, only to be denied by a late double from Eldar Civic.
Now they are set to face a Rubin Kazan side whose Russian Premier League season gets underway on 1 August. After playing their first top flight season in 2003, Rubin Kazan soon found success, winning the Russian championship in 2008 and 2009. They also won the 2011/12 Russian Cup and have been a regular in European competition in recent seasons, although 2015/16 saw them finish 10th in their domestic league. Warming up for this season by defeating Sparta Prague 2-0, but suffering defeat to Vitesse Arnhem and Rapid Vienna, they follow their game with the Hammers by taking on Norwich City on Saturday.
For West Ham, they will be looking to build on a positive performance against Slovacko in Rohrbach.
Team news
The Hammers are set to mix and match their team again on Wednesday after giving a group of players 45 minutes, some 65 to 70 and Sam Byram and Reece Burke both 90 on Tuesday.
Havard Nortveit and Aaron Cresswell are both set to feature after sitting out the Slovacko tie, while Adrian could return between the posts after Darren Randolph played his first game of pre-season against Slovacko. After combining for the Hammers' second goal, young duo Domingos Quina and Ashley Fletcher will again be keen to make their mark.
Any links between the two?
New Hammers signing Gokhan Tore is a former Rubin Kazan player, having featured in five Russian Premier League games for the club after moving to the Kazan Arena from Hamburg in 2012. He spent the second season of his spell with Rubin out on loan with Besiktas before moving to the Istanbul side permanently. The most recognisable names in the current Kazan squad to English fans will be former Sunderland loanee Yann M'Vila and ex-Everton midfielder Diniyar Bilyaletdinov.
How do I get to the match?
Click here for a map showing the Arena Krottendorf's location.
How can I watch the match?
The game is being broadcast live in the UK on Premier Sports, which is available on the Sky, Virgin and TalkTalk platforms. Click here for more info.
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Fletcher hungry for more
WHUFC.com
New signing Ashley Fletcher delighted to get off the mark against FC Slovacko
Former Manchester United striker doubled the lead with an excellent header
The England under-20 international is looking forward to fighting for a spot in Slaven Bilic's Europa League XI Summer signing Ashley Fletcher was delighted to open his West Ham United account during the 2-2 draw with FC Slovacko on Tuesday. Two new-boys linked up as the towering Yorkshireman converted a pinpoint cross from 16-year-old Domingos Quina to put the Irons 2-0 up just after half-time. Despite the Czech side's late salvo securing a draw for the opponents, Fletcher remained upbeat about his first 45 minutes in a Hammers senior side. "It's nice to get off the mark," he told whufc.com. "Ultimately we are a bit disappointed not to get the win tonight, but it's pre-season and we go again tomorrow.
"It was a great ball from Dom. I've always been told to go and attack the ball and luckily I got my head on the ball and put it in the goal."
The 20-year-old, who spent the second half of last season on loan at League One side Barnsley, met the bulk of his new teammates for the first time on Sunday morning when the Hammers departed Heathrow for their second overseas training camp of the summer. And with four training sessions under his belt in Austria, Fletcher says he has been made to feel at home since his switch from Manchester United was completed a week ago. I've loved every minute," he beamed. "Everyone has welcomed me with open arms and I am delighted to be at West Ham. "The senior players have helped me to settle in. We have a great group here and hopefully we'll kick on. "My aim has to be to break into the team. It's a very talented team and one that is going to be competing at the top of the Premier League, so for me it will be vital to keep showing myself I can do it."
And with two more games in quick succession before the Hammers travel to either Shakhtyor Soligorsk or NK Domzale in the Europa League, Fletcher has every opportunity to add to his goal tally. "I am looking forward to the games now, they're coming thick and fast. It's good that we're getting a run of games and getting the fitness as well. "It's a target for me to try and break into that [Europa League] squad. Like I say, it's a very talented squad, and all I can do is keep trying to impress the manager and the coaching staff, and keep trying to score goals."
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2016/17 Match Ticket prices announced
WHUFC.com
Match Ticket prices for 2016/17 Premier League season confirmed
West Ham United starting life at new home at London Stadium in Stratford
Demand for Match Tickets expected to be huge
West Ham United are pleased to confirm Match Ticket prices for the 2016/17 Premier League season, the Hammers' historic first campaign at London Stadium. With 52,000-plus Season Ticket Holders and an allocation set aside for the visiting club, individual Match Tickets will be in huge demand, with all seats regularly expected to sell out to Claret Members during a priority period. To become a Claret Member now, click here.
It has long since been the Club's policy to reward the extraordinary loyalty of its Season Ticket Holders and so a Season Ticket will always be the most cost-effective way of watching West Ham United. At just £289, the Hammers boast the cheapest Premier League Season Ticket in the land, while U16 Season Tickets for the historic 2016/17 were just £99 across the board.
As a result of this policy, the Club is exceptionally proud to have what is thought to be the highest number of Under-16 Season Tickets in London, meaning that 10,000 Junior Season Ticket Holders will have access to the Hammers' Category A fixtures, for the equivalent of £5.21 per game.
As for the Premier League, Category C starts at as little as £25 for Adults, with a Band 5 concession price of £12.50.
Elsewhere, Category A, Band 1 Adult tickets will drop by 17.6% from £85 at the Boleyn Ground to £70, while Band 2 and 3 prices are each reduced by £10 per seat.
The savings continue in Category B, where Band 1 Adult Tickets will be 23% cheaper than last season – £50 rather than £65.
Category B, Band 2 Adult seats will be priced at £45 – a full £15 saving on the equivalent seat in 2015/16 – while Band 3 and 4 seats will also be significantly cheaper.
Meanwhile, Band 5 tickets will offer Adult supporters the chance to attend Category B fixtures for just £30.
Click here for full 2016/17 Premier League Match Ticket prices.
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Manning – We've set the standard
WHUFC.com
Speaking after a youthful Development Squad's 2-1 victory away at League One Peterborough United, Academy coach Liam Manning highlighted multiple factors that went into the impressive performance. The Hammers got off to a terrific start as Jaanai Gordon opened the scoring after just two minutes with a well taken strike on the edge of the box. The hosts got themselves back in it immediately after half-time as striker Shaquile Coulthirst dusted himself down before equalising calmly. Just as it looked as though a draw was the more likely result, Dan Kemp was fouled after dancing his way into the box. Upstepped right-back Alex Pike in the 90th minute and confidently despatched his spot-kick into the bottom right corner. Reflecting on the hard-fought win, Manning said: "We were just speaking to the boys in the dressing room, they've set the standard tonight and that's what we want to see in every game, starting with Southend this weekend. Tonight we showed a lot of good traits, maximum competitiveness, maximum effort and commitment mixed with quality.
"We're in a good position but there's always more work to do. You can't get carried away in pre-season. It's a long season, we know that, so we'll keep plugging away but tonight was obviously a great experience to play against a good club like Peterborough. It was a great test of our fitness and I thought we looked sharp to be fair."
Just like the team that started against Chelmsford City last Friday, Terry Westley elected to field a relatively young starting XI, in particular the defence consisted of youngsters Mason Barrett, Tunji Akinola and captain Josh Pask, all of whom stood up to the difficult test. Manning continued: "We always knew we were going to be quite young with the number of players out with the first team in Austria. That's great for the lads and great for the Academy. We did a bit of work with the players yesterday and that went well. "We knew how we wanted to set up and thankfully we put that into practise. We knew Peterborough would be a little bit older and more experienced than us. "We knew we had to stay compact and we played with a lot of discipline, we probably sat back a little bit more than we would have liked usually, but overall we were very effective."
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Pask proud to captain Posh win
WHUFC.com
Josh Pask led a youthful Dev Squad to a 2-1 win away at Peterborough United
The 18-year-old captained the Dev Squad for the first time
The central-defender is targeting a break-through season
Having captained a youthful Development Squad to a 2-1 win over League One Peterborough United, Josh Pask was delighted to emerge from the challenge with flying colours. The 18-year-old central-defender put in a commanding performance at the back, while bursting forward on several occasions when in possession. Speaking at full-time, Pask said: "I thought I played well out there. It's nice to play on a great pitch, a good atmosphere and in front of a decent size crowd, I enjoyed it and I thought I did well. "It felt good to be captain, I found out in the warm up when Liam came up to me. I was happy to do it and I really enjoyed it. "I've captained a couple of U18 games before but this was obviously a step up, so I'm pleased."
Despite facing a more experienced side, a task made harder by the searing heat, Pask continued to describe just how hard his side had to work. He said: "It was very difficult, particularly in the first half, it was very hot. Thankfully there was a bit of shade in the second half but even still, it was very, very hot. It was a great test for us, physically and mentally and I'm glad we came through it. "Obviously it's only our second game of pre-season, a lot of boys got a lot of minutes which was good, and I almost got a full 90, so fitness wise I feel good."
Pask has now started and impressed in both of the Dev Squad's pre-season friendlies, and is likely to feature in the young Hammers next match away at Southend United on Saturday 23 July. In what he hopes will be a breakthrough season, Pask finished by stating his ambitions for the season: "Hopefully I'll push on and become more involved in the first team, or maybe look to get a loan at League One level with a club like Peterborough, that would be great, one of those two options."
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Five Talking Points
WHUFC.com
The hot topics for discussion as West Ham United continue their pre-season Tour of Austria, Ashley Fletcher gets off the mark and the Development Squad score a fine victory...
Nordtveit and Cresswell to return
Havard Nordtveit and Aaron Cresswell will return to action in Wednesday's pre-season match with Russian Premier League side Rubin Kazan. The pair missed the draw with Czech outfit 1.FC Slovacko on Tuesday as, after suffering fatigue-related minor injuries during the Club's US Tour, their workload is being managed by the medical team. Defensive midfielder Nordtveit and left-back Cresswell are both expected to be important figures for the Hammers when the season proper begins, so such an approach to both players' fitness is surely sensible.
Carroll and Reid take a short break
Andy Carroll and Winston Reid have both had the misfortune to suffer injuries during their otherwise successful careers. Carroll returned from leg muscle problems to goalscoring form and fitness in the latter half of last season, while Reid was ruled out for a period after Christmas with a hamstring strain. As with Nordtveit and Cresswell above, the duo – who both scored in last week's draw at Carolina RailHawks – will be managed carefully through pre-season with a view to them being 100 per cent for the big Premier League kick-off in August. Expect the pair to train with the squad but miss both midweek friendly matches in Austria ahead of a return to the pitch to face German side Karlsruher SC on Sunday.
Europa League opponents TBC
Last Friday's draw in Geneva saw West Ham United drawn to face exotic sounding FC Shakhtyor Soligorsk of Belarus or NK Domzale of Slovenia in the UEFA Europa League third qualifying round – the first fixture at the Club's new London Stadium home. The pair drew 1-1 in front of 2,100 fans at Shakhtyor's Stadyen Budaunik in the first leg of their second qualifying round tie last week, with the return game set for Domzale's Sportni Park this Thursday evening. Whoever wins is guaranteed two money-spinning ties against Slaven Bilic's Hammers, with both potential opponents already confirming that they will switch their home leg to bigger, more-modern stadia – Shakhtyor to the 13,200-capacity Borisov Arena and Domzale to the 16,000-capacity Stozice Stadium in Ljubljana. The Belarussians have an away-goal to defend, but Domzale will be confident after opening their domestic season with a 2-0 home victory over Radomlje on Sunday. While the identity of West Ham's opponents remains a mystery, one thing is for sure – Hammers fans will be looking out for Thursday's second-leg result with huge interest!
Did Ashley Fletcher's header remind you of anyone?
AF or AC?
Tuesday's draw with Slovacko saw Ashley Fletcher bag his first goal in Claret and Blue just four minutes into his first-team debut. The former Manchester United frontman showed bravery and skill to nod in a teasing cross from the penalty spot, shrugging off the presence of two FC Slovacko defenders. It is early days, but did the powerful 20-year-old's dominant aerial finish remind you of a certain long-haired centre forward?
Developing Squad
While the first team have yet to register a win in pre-season, the Development Squad bounced back from defeat at Chelmsford City to score an impressive 2-1 victory at Peterborough United on Tuesday. Jaanai Gordon bagged a fine finish against his former club, while Alex Pike showed admirable composure to slot home a last-gasp penalty to secure the success.
Terry Westley's youngsters travel down the A13 to face Southend United in Great Wakering on Saturday before jetting off to the Netherlands for two pre-season games next week.
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The inspirational and gradual rise of West Ham United and Southampton f
Dissecting Southampton's and West Ham's ambitious efforts that have raised the bar for midtable sides
by Hari Narayanan KN @MUFan23 Opinion20 Jul 2016, 16:18 ISTUpdated : 20 Jul 2016, 18:07 IST
The marvel of Leicester City winning the Premier League is arguably the best sporting story ever to have unfolded in recent years, an ambitious side with average players making the money-pumping super big clubs look like bullies who had lost their way. A story that urged us to dream and hope.Reminiscent of the efforts of the Foxes, West Ham and Southampton are prime examples of how teams are often held back by the expectations put in place.West Ham United's rapid riseMay 24, 2015: West Ham United announced what most of the football people saw coming, the club would be parting ways with Sam Allardyce after four years that lighted the Hammers' upturn from the Championship to a midtable finish in the Premier League.
They had finished a place higher than they did a year before, nothing noteworthy but a statistical improvement nonetheless. Pundits and bookmakers alike had stamped and agreed upon the imaginary line that the East Londoners wouldn't even think of crossing, not in the impending seasons.Also Read: 10 best midfielders in Europe this seasonLines would be crossed and barriers broken, the hierarchy with a golden man in David Gold, who couldn't tell Pedro Obiang from Angelo Ogbonna, decided it was time the club laid its intentions out in the open, plans changed and objectives set, perspectives differing and risks taken.One of West Ham's own, savage for his age, a man who could look you in the eye and visit the inner darkness that you never knew existed – hopes and expectations were shouldered on Slaven Bilic. Ferocious in attire, demanding in essence, the Croatian was part of the club's rearguard setup in 1996 when they finished 14th under Harry "I-give-interviews-from-my-car" Redknapp.Boleyn Ground stood there glaring in the sun awaiting the vigorously animated figure walking out of the tunnel revamping what he thought needed and making the perfect start to the Premier League.
And boy didn't he start well. Emerging from the Emirates with all three in the bag and a smile on their faces was a pivotal point that turned West Ham's consistent mediocrity into a team that ripped apart other clubs away from home, going into games with plans of immaculate detail and executing it with ample precision.Touchlines were lit up by madness and intimidation which was Bilic's way of inspiring the men out on the pitch, reminding them of what they were playing for. The progression was evident from the performances and further substantiated by the team's impressive run of results, with their manager moulding them into an inspired bunch brimming with motivation and hungry for results.Around all the talk of the manager managing to seal his authority on the side, bringing them to a higher level of newfound quality, there was one man who arrived from Marseille and splashed down with a thud so loud that the rival defenses started to fall apart.Dimitri Payet glided past tackles, drifting sideways and inside using textbook faints and trickery, sailing through the opposition like a man on a mission, soon becoming the go-to-man and often delivering when they needed him to.Fans were witnessing a footballer of monumental abilities nurturing his intrinsic talent and pushing them to untrodden heights.West Ham emanated as contenders for the final Champions League qualifying spot, and at times, coming close to toppling Manchester United from fifth but failed to propel themselves to the finish line as they expected. They finished seventh behind Southampton, racking up a club record 62 points, 4 short of fourth-placed Manchester City, surpassing assumptions and silencing critics.The decision to let Big Sam walk away had brought upon the club a new dawn of diverse opportunities, a statement of eye-opening nature that in the changing world of money-spitting, monopolistic, sponsor-driven world of football, the paths that lead upward bow before you, if there's that ambitious spark inside waiting to be made into a glowing inferno.Southampton – Gradual progression
A period of dullness, distractions and desperation, Southampton's 2008-09 season tested the team's very endurance capability, languishing as time progressed, inhabiting the relegation zone for the majority of the season and giving their supporters little to look forward to and nothing to be excited about.As the clock ticked on in Hampshire, distant clamours arose, faint signals got clearer and a year of agony finally reached its horrid peak, brushing off scenarios and the prospect of a miraculous escape that even the most faithful found hard to believe. Southampton were condemned to relegation to the third tier of English football.Fast forward seven years and that's a story right there that would make Hollywood. The Saints have blossomed into a different giant, exemplifying how a football club is supposed to be run, giving the master brains behind the mammoth clubs something to think about before reaping profits and dumping the whole load on a world-beater in the hope that trophies and more trophies would follow.They have become a beacon of hope in a world where the prominent question is who makes more from shirt sales and sorting out issues in a bumper contract for a world record move.
An academy of the highest quality, the antipode of talent scarcity, which has quite a remarkable list of names to its credit, including Gareth Bale (that CV ought to impress), has been the core of their splendid transformation from a crumbling set of players to a model institution set around devised plans and long-term vision implemented to excellence.By doing so, they have mirrored the definition of 'gradual progression', refining where necessary and improving their league finish season after season, from 14th to 6th in four years, which is nothing short of emphatic.Also Read: 5 Southampton players who could follow Ronald Koeman to EvertonBut the departure of Ronald Koeman might have set a different set of gears in motion, looking to pick up the pace and bridging the gap that most managers leave behind. It is even more unsettling to swallow the new man in town, Claude Puel.He has the task of engineering his side to cope without the agile Sadio Mane who had a hobby of taking down defenses with his exhilarating pace and Graziano Pelle who joined Shandong Luneng becoming the latest to make a move to China involving lots of money. Lots.
Even then, it's just another gas station for the club. A momentary pause which would resume as soon as the tyres started to roll, fuelled by another one of those spectacular goals scored in front of the St. Mary's faithful by one of their academy products.The club's transfer structure, making profits out of players they bought for pennies, scouting potential and shedding light on unearthed talent, stabilising the team and looking for balance is another take on their already distinguished objectives.Unlike West Ham's slingshot from midtable to European places, Southampton have walked knowing and believing in what they have to do and making sure they did. These teams have epitomised the substance ambitions are to be built on, firmly reaching the aspired levels of calibre and consistency, letting it known that ambitions take you places, places less travelled by.
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Ashley Fletcher scores on West Ham debut after Manchester United exit
Fletcher scores against Austrian side FC Slovacko on first appearance since leaving Old Trafford.
Nick Howson By Nick Howson
July 20, 2016 12:55 BST
IB Times
Ashley Fletcher has wasted little time reigniting his career following his departure from Manchester United, marking his West Ham United debut with a goal in a friendly draw with FC Slovacko. The Hammers are already deep into their pre-season schedule, with a two-legged Europa League qualifier coming up next week, but are yet to win since reassembling ahead of the new campaign.
After failing to prevail in either of their matches in the US against Seattle Sounders and Carolina Railhawks, Slaven Bilic's team surrendered a two-goal lead in the first of the three matches in Austria before they return to English shores. Mark Noble gave the Premier League side the advantage, before Fletcher met Domingos Quina's cross to double the lead with a neat header. But two goals from Eldar Civic allowed the Czech side to claim a memorable draw, as West Ham's winless summer continues just a week out from their first competitive game of the campaign. Among the positives for the club, though, was the goal for new signing Fletcher, who after being left out in the cold by United continued where he left off last season, netting a goal on his first appearance. "It's nice to get off the mark," he told the club's official website. "Ultimately we are a bit disappointed not to get the win tonight, but it's pre-season and we go again tomorrow. It was a great ball from Dom. I've always been told to go and attack the ball and luckily I got my head on the ball and put it in the goal. "I've loved every minute. Everyone has welcomed me with open arms and I am delighted to be at West Ham. The senior players have helped me to settle in. We have a great group here and hopefully we'll kick on. My aim has to be to break into the team. It's a very talented team and one that is going to be competing at the top of the Premier League, so for me it will be vital to keep showing myself I can do it."
Misfortune denied Fletcher an opportunity to break into the United team last term. Sent on a six-month loan to Barnsley in the January transfer window, the 18-year-old was busy inspiring the Tykes to promotion and the Football League Trophy while Louis van Gaal was blooding youngsters from the club's academy. Among the 14 players given an opportunities by the Dutchman was Marcus Rashford, who made his debut in the Europa League tie with FC Midtjylland as a late replacement for the injured Anthony Martial. The academy graduate went on to score eight goals in all competitions and force his way into the England squad for the European Championships. Bilic is hopeful Fletcher can replicate Rashford's success in his maiden top-flight campaign. Though Fletcher was learning his trade in League One, he would have undoubtedly have been called on during United's attacking injury crisis had he been available to Van Gaal – such was his form for the club's Under-21 side. He had previously netted against Manchester City's second string.
Fletcher rejected a new contract at United to move to the Olympic Stadium, and could become the latest player to leave Old Trafford for nothing and go on to to enjoy a stellar career. The Daily Mail understands United are a step closer to parting with £100m in order to bring Paul Pogba back to the club – four years after allowing him to move to Juventus for a nominal fee having failed to agree a fresh deal with demanding agent Mino Raiola.
Amid the speculation over the France international, Fletcher's instant success with West Ham again draws into sharp focus United's transfer business. And with the Glazer family about to finance a world-record transfer, the ownership will be keen that Jose Mourinho bucks the trend of allowing talented academy stars to flourish away from the Theatre of Dreams.
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ARE CARLOS BACCA'S TRANSFER OPTIONS DIMINISHING?
By S J Chandos 20 Jul 2016 at 08:00
WTID
The potential signing of Carlos Bacca from AC Milan has certainly turned in to something of a long running saga. The fee has been agreed with AC Milan, but the personal terms package offered to the player by the Hammers allegedly remains on the table. It is clear that Bacca and his advisers have been stalling in responding to West Ham's offer, in the hope that a Champions League qualified club will make a 11th hour counter bid/offer. This was amply demonstrated by Bacca's comments that his 'dream' was to play in the Champions League competition. That statement represented a very clear 'come and get me' declaration to alternative suitors.
If that was the plan then the latest indicators are that it has not worked. The president of Atletico Madrid has publicly stated that the club are not interested in signing Bacca; while the anticipated bid from Arsenal does not (to date) appear to have materialised. At the same time AC Milan are apparently pressurising Bacca to move to East London, as they are dependent upon the fee to finance their own summer transfer dealings, which are currently on hold. So, that appears to leave Bacca with a sole option, West Ham and the Olympic Stadium! This is reflected in yesterday's report in Italian publication, Gazzetta dello Sport, that Bacca has 'timidly reopened negotiations with West Ham about a potential move.'
It may be that the Hammers end up signing Bacca almost by default. The question is whether it is a good thing to sign a player for £26m in those circumstances? The worst case scenario is that the player is reluctant to be at the club and this is reflected in his attitude and performances next season. The alternative view is that Bacca is a professional and once he joins that club he will give 100% to the cause and do everything that he can to make the move a success. Certainly, on signing, Bacca's personal success and that of the club become indivisible, so hopefully the latter, positive scenario will prevail. There is also the possibility that like many new players before him (most recently Payet) Bacca will quickly learn what the club is all about and become enamoured with our project. And his distinct part in that project will be to supply the c.20 goals to help fire the club in to a top four PL finish in 2016/17 and qualification for the 2017/18 CL competition. Thus, realising his declared 'dream' at the OS, the season after next.
There have been other reports that West Ham are interested in Toulouse striker Wissam Ben-Yedder. This may be true, but it could be that this is viewed as lining up an alternative if the Bacca deal cannot be completed. The same may also be true with regard to the club's reported inquiry about the availability of Deportivo La Coruna striker, Lucas Perez. This speculation, and the links to numerous targets, is likely a consequence of the club putting out multiple feelers or, as David Gold put it, having 'many irons in the fire.' Only time will tell whether these proposed deals have substance? Although I have to say that Ben-Yedder does look a very good option and is well worth a punt. He is 25 years of age, entering the final year of his current contract with Toulouse (so the fee will be reasonable) and last season he scored 17 league goals in a struggling team. That poses the tantalising question: what could he achieve in a better quality side?
One deal that does now appear to be moving to completion is an agreement to take Jonathan Calleri on a season long loan, presumably with a view to a permanent deal next summer. The good news is that Calleri has just been granted his Italian passport, which eliminates the need for a visa application. It was delays in granting this passport that scuppered previous overtures by Inter Milan to sign the striker. This is potentially a very good deal and one that could really work out well for the club. Although, if it happens, we have to hope that both he and Lanzini come through unscathed from their impending involvement in the Argentine Olympic football squad!
Social media is getting very excitable about alleged interest in Reece Oxford from the two Manchester club and (don't laugh!) Tottenham Hotspurs. There may be an element of threat from Manchester, although Oxford would be very ill-advised to gamble on a move to City (which has been a grave yard for young English talent) or a United managed by Jose Mourinho (a manager who arguably does not have a track record of promoting youth). As for Spurs, they rejected Oxford as a school boy and coming from the other side of north London he reportedly has little affection for the Spuds. I know money often talks, but I think we can safely dismiss their chances! No, the Hammers must respond by getting in to serious negotiations to sign Oxford on a new long-term deal. He is far better off negotiating a new contract to stay at the club and continue his development here. At 17 years of age, time is firmly on his side and there is no footballing imperative to seek a hasty transfers at this early stage of his career. At the same time, there must be a recognition by the club's management that Oxford needs more first team game time this coming season and that should be a priority.
Indeed, the club's involvement in the Europa League competition is a golden opportunity for the club's youth players. There will obviously be a number of cross-overs, especially if we reach the latter stages of cup competitions, but the club need to almost operate two sub-squads in which one core set of players pre-dominate in the PL campaign and another in the Europa League and domestic cups. Certainly, Slaven Bilic will need to skilfully manage the rotation and deployment of his squad next season and that will mean increasingly utilising the club's young players. That is a certainty and those youngsters (if they are not loaned out) must be ready to step up to the plate and take their first team chances when they come. That in turn, is the route to forcing their way in to the core PL sub-squad and giving Bilic some very nice future selection headaches!
Finally, if the club are successful in recruiting replacement strikers, then it looks as if Sakho and Valencia will exit the club this summer. Both are being kept until the said deals are completed. I particularly regret losing Sakho, as he is a centre-forward that I rate highly. I always liked the way he led the line, linked up play and did the hard work, in running the channels, as well as converting his share of chances. Indeed, If pushed, I must admit that I probably preferred him leading the line, but things move on and if a parting of the ways is necessary, it is necessary. As long as 'continuous improvement' results in us securing better quality replacements. That is the ultimate 'bottom line' as far as I am concerned.
However, in the case of these two specific players it might be tempting to try to prioritise outgoing transfer deals with overseas clubs, to guarantee that they do not come back to haunt us next season! Lazio want Valencia and Sevilla and Hamburg are allegedly interested in Sakho, so (as long as the fees are acceptable and, obviously, the players agree) that might be the way to go. After all, why strengthen rival PL sides, if it can be avoided?
SJ. Chandos.
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New West Ham signing Ashley Fletcher targets Premier League first team spot after debut goal
TOM DUTTON Wednesday 20 July 2016 09:55 BST0 comments
Evening Standard
New signing Ashley Fletcher hopes to break into the West Ham first team this season after scoring on his debut against FC Slovacko on Tuesday. The 20-year-old rose to meet Domingos Quina's cross as the Hammers forged a two-goal lead in Austria before surrendering the advantage late in the second period. Fletcher arrived from Manchester United on a free transfer earlier this month to become Slaven Bilic's fourth signing of the current transfer window. "It's nice to get off the mark," he told West Ham's official website. "Ultimately we are a bit disappointed not to get the win tonight, but it's pre-season and we go again tomorrow. "It was a great ball from Dom. I've always been told to go and attack the ball and luckily I got my head on the ball and put it in the goal."
And the striker is targeting a spot in Bilic's first team next term as the Hammers prepare to move into the Olympic Stadium. He added: "The senior players have helped me to settle in. We have a great group here and hopefully we'll kick on. My aim has to be to break into the team. It's a very talented team and one that is going to be competing at the top of the Premier League, so for me it will be vital to keep showing myself I can do it."
Fletcher's first chance to feature for Bilic's side in their new home will come against either Shakhtyor Soligorsk or NK Domzale in the Europa League third qualifying round on August 4. And the England Under-20 international hopes to make an impression on West Ham boss Bilic during the remaineder of West Ham's tour of Austria as he spies a spot in the Croatian's European squad. "I am looking forward to the games now, they're coming thick and fast. It's good that we're getting a run of games and getting the fitness as well," Fletcher said. "It's a target for me to try and break into that [Europa League] squad. Like I say, it's a very talented squad, and all I can do is keep trying to impress the manager and the coaching staff, and keep trying to score goals."
West Ham face Rubin Kazan on Tuesday before concluding their time in Austria on Saturday against Karlsruher SC
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West Ham vs Rubin Kazan preview: Prediction, live, TV schedule, team news and betting odds
SAM LONG Wednesday 20 July 2016 06:29 BST0 comments
Evening Standard
West Ham are still winless in pre-season after throwing away a two-goal advantage against Czech Republic outfit FC Slovacko on Tuesday evening. But Slave Bilic's side will have an immediate chance to get that disappointment out of their system when they face Rubin Kazan on Wednesday. The Croatian manager will undoubtedly have been impressed with a couple of his new signings so far this summer, but the Hammers still need to tighten up at the back. With plenty of football to play between now and West Ham's opening Europa League fixture, fringe players and youngsters alike have ample time to stake their respective claims for game time in what will be a landmark season in the east London club's history.
Date, time and venue:
West Ham face Rubin Kazan on July 20 in Krottendorf. Kick off is at 5pm.
Where & when to watch:
The game be broadcast live on Premier Sports. Alternatively, you can follow the game on Standard Sport's blog.
Team news and probable line ups:
New signing Ashley Fletcher impressed off of the bench against FC Slovacko and will be pushing for a start this evening. The youngster could be preferred to Enner Valencia up top but Andy Carroll is also in need of minutes. Sofiane Feghouli, like Fletcher, also made a bright start to his career on Tuesday and seems to be an exciting prospect. He is expected to start on the right flank once again. Michail Antonio could be given a run out at right back ahead of Sam Byram but do not read too much into Bilic's team selection with the games coming thick and fast for the Hammers.
What they're saying:
David Sullivan: "Slaven and the players are currently working hard in Austria as they continue their pre-season preparations and the new signings we have made are getting to know each other in the build-up to the first Premier League game. "The hard work continues behind the scenes as we look to bring more new players into the squad. "Our search for a new forward has been well documented and we have been working hard to negotiate moves for some big name strikers."
Prediction:
Betting odds (via 888Sport):
West Ham 4/5
Rubin Kazan 27/10
Draw 5/2
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West Ham must put a stop to tiresome and damaging Reece Oxford sideshow
HITC
Damien Lucas
A bid from Manchester City has reignited the Reece Oxford sideshow at West Ham United and it is threatening to dampen spirits ahead of the new season. The Hammers recorded their best ever Premier League points total last season and a first positive goal difference since 1986 as they finished seventh, just outside the Champions League places. The signs look good for the future too with the campaign also notable for the emergence of the club's youngest ever player Reece Oxford. The supremely talented teenager made his debut with a midfield masterclass in a 2-0 win over Arsenal at the Emirates in the opening game of the season aged just 16.
Bilic was keen to protect his young charge
But after that he was used sparingly by manager Slaven Bilic who was keen to protect his young charge. Speculation has been rife over the 6ft 5 teenager's future for the last few months with reports in the likes of the Mirror that Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho was keen on securing his signature. Talk then turned to a potential loan move to relegated Newcastle United in the Championship before claims Bundesliga side Red Bull Leipzig wanted to make him their marquee signing after their promotion to the German top flight, as reported by Sky Sports.
Oxford contract refusal leaves Hammers in predicament
Now mega rich Manchester City, led by Pep Guardiola, have reportedly bid £15 million for the young Hammer, as reported by Sky Sports. The speculation has been allowed to continue because of Oxford's refusal to sign a new long-term deal at the club. That leaves Slaven Bilic in a predicament as the club could lose him for next to nothing. The Hammers appear to be doing everything in the power to convince Oxford he has a clear path to the first team this season, even selling popular homegrown Hammer James Tomkins to Crystal Palace for £10m. And City know exactly what they would be getting too make no mistake about that. Oxford is a future England star and captain in waiting and is the brightest prospect of another good crop of youngsters from the West Ham Academy's production line. He would be an absolute steal at £15m and should West Ham lose him it would be a bitter blow. But what is his motivation? If it is first team football then surely he will be less likely to achieve that at the Etihad even if there is the temptation of working with Guardiola. It is already dampening the excitement of the club's big move to the 60,000 seater Olympic Stadium this summer and losing two homegrown stars in such an important summer would send out the wrong message. Whether the Hammers need to offer Oxford the kind of contract and assurances he demands or take the money, the circus needs to stop.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Wednesday, July 20
Daily WHUFC News - 20th July 2016
Late double denies Hammers
WHUFC.com
West Ham United 2-2 FC Slovacko
Pre-season Match, Tuesday 19 July 2016, Stadion Rohrbach, Rohrbach, Austria
West Ham United were pegged back late in the opening game of their tour of Austria as FC Slovacko struck twice in the final five minutes to deny Slaven Bilic's side victory. The Hammers were cruising after Mark Noble and Ashley Fletcher netted either side of the break and looked well on course for the perfect start to the tour. But Czech First League side Slovacko did not give up and earned themselves a share of the spoils when half-time sub Eldar Civic twice found space inside the area to fire home.
West Ham have a chance to go one better on Wednesday when they take on Russian side Rubin Kazan. Darren Randolph and Enner Valencia were named in the starting line-up following their return from featuring on the international stage for Ireland and Ecuador earlier this summer. After an early booking for Slovacko's Tomas Kosut for a heavy foul on Pedro Obiang, the Hammers began to seize control and Sofiane Feghouli sent over a delicious eleventh-minute cross which Martin Samuelsen headed over the top. Kosut was getting too tight to his man and Valencia took advantage to spin away from him with 22 minutes played. He knocked back to Feghouli, who clipped a cross towards Josh Cullen, but the Czech side cut his dangerous ball out. Slovacko then enjoyed their best spell of the half as Jaroslav Divis nodded wide from a decent position before three corners on the spin came to nothing. Eight minutes before the interval the breakthrough arrived when the Hammers made a strong period of possession count. After working the ball inside from the right, Cullen passed into Samuelsen, who had snuck into space on the opposite flank. The Norway international cut back to Noble, and the No16 did the rest, firing into the bottom right-hand corner. Valencia then blasted a free-kick over the top before Slaven Bilic made five changes at the break, giving Gokhan Tore and Ashley Fletcher first run outs in Claret and Blue.
Just two minutes into the second half, Slovacko thought they had drawn level when former Ipswich Town man Velice Sumulikoski rose highest to nod home. However, the referee spotted a push and the Hammers' lead stood intact. It was a lead that doubled four minutes later when two of the youngsters introduced at the break combined in devastating fashion. Domingos Quina shifted the ball onto his right foot to make space for a cross, and his pinpoint delivery found Fletcher, who steered his header into the bottom right-hand corner. Cheikhou Kouyate had a shot blocked by the legs of goalkeeper Milan Meca and Quina saw his effort from 25 yards deflect behind as the Hammers looked for a third. There was to be a late sting in the tail though, as Slovacko's Civic struck twice in the final five minutes to bring his side level. Both goals came from inside the box, and the equaliser was emphatic as he controlled Davicek's pass before slamming home.
West Ham United: Randolph (Spiegel 71), Byram, Burke, Rice (Martinez 74), Page (Antonio 46), Noble (Kouyate 46), Feghouli (Tore 46), Cullen, Obiang (Browne 69), Samuelsen (Quina 46), Valencia (Fletcher 46)
Subs not used: Adrian, Reid, Cresswell, Carroll, Antonio, Nordtveit, Makasi
Goals: Noble 37, Fletcher 52
FC Slovacko: Meca; Simko (Omyla 46), Kosut (Tok 46), Rada, Reinberk; Sutiulikoski, Danicek; Biolek (Civic 46), Mavlik, Kerbr; Divis
Subs not used: Mlupik, Koro, Ravic, Sadilek, Brecka
Goals: Civic 85, 89
Booked: Kosut
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FT: Peterborough United 1-2 Development Squad
WHUFC.com
FT: That's it! Darren Deadman blows his whistle and the Hammers have secured a valuable victory. Of course, still early in the pre-season but nevertheless the result will be pleasing for all concerned. Even more impressive was the number of eye catching performances out there today. Plenty of positive to discuss!
90+1: GOAL!! Surely a winner?! Alex Pike despatches his penalty coolly after Dan Kemp was brought down following a lovely flicked pass by Luka Belic, excellent play all round. 2-1!
90: Golden opportunity to notch in the final moments as Kemp is played in by Luka Belic. Somehow Taylor makes the save...
88: Final change of the game sees Josh Pask replaced by Ben Johnson.
85: Late pressure from the hosts with a series of corners, Trott does superbly to punch acrobatically to safety.
82: Hector-Ingram twists and turns on the edge of the box, finds a bit of space and directs a shot which is parried and out for a corner. Akinola attacks it but the hosts manage to clear.
80: Two more subs for the Hammers, the Belic brothers are coming on in place of Noha Sylvestre and Grady Diangana - both have out in real shifts tonight.
77: Santos is substituted after falling awkwardly, he's been there best player tonight, a commanding presence at the back throughout.
74: The match is becoming increasingly more stretched with chances at the back for both sides. Anthony Scully is on for Jaanai Gordon.
70: Hector-Ingram goes on a mazey run, it's all Posh can do to foul him, however they play it short and the chance comes to nothing.
68: Dan Kemp shows lovely feet to spin his man and then wins the foul, excellent play from the winger.
65: Peterborough ring the changes as seven substitutes prepare to come on. The Hammers also take the opportunity to make a change as Jahmal Hector-Ingram replaces Sam Ford.
62: Mercifully, the temperature has dropped but the pace of the game certainly hasn't. The hosts have grown in stature since the equaliser and are pressing for a second goal.
58: Westley makes some further changes as youngsters Mason Barrett and Alfie Lewis are replaced by Conor Coventry and Rosaire Longelo.
50: Gordon really looks hungry tonight, he runs onto the ball over the top, tries to lift it over substitute goalkeeper Mark Taylor only for Santos to clear it off the line!
47: We're back underway and not exactly the start the Hammers had in mind. Coulthirst goes haring down the right-flank, gets goal side and is felled. He picks himself up and sends Trott the wrong way. 1-1.
46: Just the one change for the Hammers at half-time as Dan Kemp replaces Joe Powell in a like-for-like swap.
45: Andrew Hughes tries his luck from distance, and he connects ever so well as the ball whistles past the far post. Half-time.
43: Pike wins back possession superbly and then finds Diangana who needs no invitation to burst forward. He plays a good ball to Gordon, driving into the box, yet Ricardo Santos outmuscles his marker.
40: Five minutes to go until half time and a very good one from a West Ham point of view. That's not to say Peterborough haven't had their chances, it's certainly all to play for!
36: Coulthirst looks to make the most of a loose ball as he drives toward the edge of the box. He lets fly, it's not a bad effort but Trott is comfortable enough to watch it fly past the far post.
34: Diangana shows a clean set of heels as he takes it from the right touch line to edge to the edge of the box and plays in Powell. Posh have defenders back in numbers and they manage to crowd him out.
31: Bermudan-born Nathan Trott is alert and on his toes to grab Coulthirst's shot from the edge of the box.
28: Posh continue to press and Pike does superbly to get his head to Ferrier's cross, Da Silva Lopes was lurking just behind and almost certain to score.
24: Mason Barrett is having a busy afternoon as the majority of the attacks are coming down his side, but he's doing well and puts an end to another attack with another brave tackle.
21: Coulthirst is in, and he should score, yet a combination of Pask and Akinola get a crucial block in. The first, and eventually second, corner is cleared.
19: Hayden White dinks a floated cross into the six yard box however Alex Pike is on hand to head the danger away. His clearance falls to Ford who tries to play in Gordon but the pass has just too much on it.
17: Despite the heat, this game is being played an impressive tempo and competitiveness. Very little 'friendly' about it. Grady Diangana is showing so very bright signs, as is Lewis who blazes narrowly over from 25-yards.
13: Giving Pask the captaincy looks to be a stroke of genius so far, he's take the mantle and then some. Nothing's getting past him in the early exchanges, and he looks calm and composed in possession.
11: Again, Posh respond strongly. Callum Chettle shows a burst of pace and lays it to Ferrier on the right-wing, he makes room for the cross and finds Shaquile Coulhirst who blazes over.
8: Another chance! Superb football from the youngster - Terry Westley must be loving what he is seeing. Joe Powell and Alfie Lewis and dictating the tempo, Powell feeds Gordon who in turn plays in Sam Ford. The striker spins on a six-pence and lashes it goalward, forcing Ben Alnwick into a fine save at the near post. That move deserved a goal!
5: Moments later Posh look to equalise however Morgan Ferrier is denied by a superb save by the on-rushing Nathan Trott. Frantic and open start. The travelling Hammers are loving it!
3: GOAL! What a start for the Hammers. Josh Pask wins the ball superbly, bursts forward, beating two men, splits the defence and Jaanai Gordon is on hand to slot it home - excellent finish. 1-0. COYI!
1: Here we go then! Josh Pask, tonight's captain, leads the side out in front of a healthy crowd. The hosts are in traditional blue and white, the young Hammers are in the new away kit of white shirt and socks with electric blue shorts. It's Posh to get us under way...
7.20pm: Westley makes six changes to the starting XI that played against Chelmsford City last Friday. Trott, Pike, Barrett, Pask, Ford and Diangana all keep their places, while Lewis, Akinola, Powell, Sylvestre and Gordon, facing his former side, come in for Cullen, Antonio, Fletcher, S Westley and Coventry.
7.15pm: Good evening all, I hope you've all enjoyed the sunshine today! It's still absolutely sweltering here at the Abax, making what appears to be a tough test even harder for Terry Westley's youngsters.
Peterborough United: Alnwick, White, Hughes, Santos, Tafazolli, Bostwick, Chettle, J Anderson, Coulthirst, Da Silva Lopes, Ferrier
Subs: Tyler, Freestone, Nabi, Taylor, Maddison, Nichols, Taylor, Inman, Smith, Baldwin, Edwards, Stevens
Development Squad: Trott, Pike, Barrett, Lewis, Akinola, Pask, Powell, Sylvestre, Ford, Diangana, Gordon
Subs: Kemp, Matrevics, Hector-Ingram, Scully, Coventry, L Belic, K Belic, Wells, Johnson, Longelo
7pm: Hello and welcome to tonight's coverage from the Abax as a youthful Dev Squad take on League One Peterborough. Team news to follow shortly.
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From the Boardroom - David Sullivan
WHUFC.com
The start of the new season is nearly upon us and we are now preparing to play our first game in the UEFA Europa League after the draw was made for the third qualifying round last week. We will be heading to Slovenia or Belarus and I would like to thank the two clubs and UEFA for agreeing to reverse the tie We have announced our prices for the home tie which will be our first game at the new Stadium on Thursday 4 August and have once again shown that we will continue our longstanding commitment to affordable family football. We have priced our first game incredibly cheaply to allow as many supporters to come as possible, as we also have a mouthwatering friendly against Juventus three days later.
I was shown around our new home last week and I can assure our fans that they will be impressed. The seats are bigger, the transport links are fantastic and this will be a Stadium that the West Ham fans will be proud of. Slaven and the players are currently working hard in Austria as they continue their pre-season preparations and the new signings we have made are getting to know each other in the build-up to the first Premier League game. The hard work continues behind the scenes as we look to bring more new players into the squad.
Our search for a new forward has been well documented and we have been working hard to negotiate moves for some big name strikers. Ideally we would have had someone in place by now but sadly that has not proved to be the case and the forwards we have targeted want to play Champions League football. Whatever deal we offer to that player, if he wants Champions League football he will not come to us. We have still got some fantastic strikers at the Club and we were the fourth highest scorers in the Premier League last season. In a perfect world I would like to think we will bring in a top class striker before the transfer window closes at the end of August, but if that doesn't happen I have every confidence in our current strikers to continue doing the business.
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Bournemouth ballot for Claret Members
WHUFC.com
A ticket ballot for West Ham United's historic Premier League curtain raiser at London Stadium is to open exclusively to Claret Members at 9am on Wednesday 20 July.
Claret Members have until 5pm on Wednesday 27 July to enter the ballot for the landmark visit of Bournemouth on Sunday 21 August, as the Hammers start out life on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
To do so, Claret Members are required to login to their Ticketmaster account via www.eticketing.co.uk/whufc, select the fixture and add to basket.
The Club is keen to ensure that Claret Members can sit alongside friends and family for the unmissable fixture, and so fans wishing to apply with other members should include all client reference numbers in the one transaction, and, if successful, will be seated together.
By becoming a member today, supporters not only ensure access to the ballot, but will be guaranteed exclusive ticket priority for every Premier League home game during the first season in our stunning new Stadium.
With 50,000 plus Season Ticket Holders, an even greater number on the waiting list and tens of thousands of Claret Members already registered, Claret Membership is your access to home match tickets in this unique season.
Membership is priced at just £40 for adults and £25 for under-16s, with supporters already on the Season Ticket Waiting List eligible for a £5 discount.
Similarly, Claret Members can also join the Season Ticket Waiting List for the reduced price of just £5.
Supporters entering the ballot have the option of selecting up to a maximum of two price points. If you are happy to accept any price band, and thereby increasing the likelihood of being successful, kindly select your preferred area of the Stadium and leave the second option blank.
Cat B Adult U16s/U21s/O65s/Dis.
1966 £60.00 £60.00
Band 1 £50.00 £25.00
Band 2 £45.00 £22.50
Band 3 £40.00 £20.00
Band 4 £40.00 £20.00
Band 5 £30.00 £15.00
The ballot closes at 5pm on Wednesday 27 July and successful supporters will be notified via email on Thursday 28 July.
Hospitality packages for this fixture are available to buy now from £349 +VAT per person. For further information and to purchase, email corporatesales@westhamunited.co.uk or call 0871 091 1811*.
*Calls cost 10ppm plus your networks access charge.
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Jurcevic happy with Slovacko workout
WHUFC.com
West Ham United might have been pegged back at the death in Tuesday's 2-2 draw with Czech side 1. FC Slovacko, but assistant manager Nikola Jurcevic preferred to focus on a positive performance. The Hammers were the dominant force at the Stadion Rohrbach in Austria and looked well set for victory when Mark Noble and Ashley Fletcher netted in 16 minutes either side of the interval. Martin Samuelsen, Enner Valencia and Cheikhou Kouayte all went close, only for Slovacko man Eldar Civic to notch twice in the final five minutes. It meant the Club's tour to Austria started with a draw, but Jurcevic was pleased with the workout and the display his team gave. He explained: "It was a very important test for us, because we were playing a similar opponent to those who we will face in the Europa League qualification games. "I think we played very well for most of the game, but in the finish did not have enough concentration for those final minutes. We made a lot of changes and some players were tired too. "However, overall we can be satisfied with this match because we trained hard yesterday, we trained hard this morning and we played also without some of our important players. "All together, I think it was a good performance from our team. Results are not so important in these test games, it is much more important is to be fit for our games in Europa League qualification and the Premier League."
The Hammers are now close to having their full squad back from their international commitments in Europe, South America and Africa over the summer and Jurcevic is delighted to see it all coming together. He continued: "For us, it was a boost to have the players back and they played together for the first time in a long time. "You could see Kouyate, Feghouli, Tore, Valencia, Randolph, they're all in good shape and their performance was very good."
The Hammers are back at it quickly, with a game against Rubin Kazan on Wednesday, so Jurcevic is looking forward to another useful 90 minutes. He added: "Now we play Rubin Kazan on Wednesday and we will mix the team again. Maybe we will have some young players at half time, and we will play with more of the experienced players too. "We'll have players like Nordtveit and Cresswell and I think in every game we play we will be better. "We were happy with everything in America, where we made a good job, and now we've started the second part of pre-season and we are absolutely happy with everything here in Austria."
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Europa League tie reversed
WHUFC.com
Shakhtyor Soligorsk of Belarus or NK Domzale of Slovenia will be first visitors to London Stadium
UEFA confirm that tie has been reversed and West Ham United will be at home on 4 August
Ticket for UEFA Europa League home opener on sale to Season Ticket Holders from Tuesday 19 July
West Ham United can confirm that Slaven Bilic's side will host Shakhtyor Soligorsk of Belarus or NK Domzale of Slovenia on Thursday 4 August in the UEFA Europa League third qualifying round second leg. The Hammers' agreement with both potential opponents to reverse the tie was given the go-ahead by UEFA on Monday, with the first leg being now being played away from home on 28 July. The second will take place at the London Stadium - West Ham's first-ever fixture at the Club's new home - at 7.45pm on Thursday 4 August. Tickets for this eagerly-anticipated European match go on sale to Season Ticket Holders from 9am on Tuesday 19 July, with a priority window open until Sunday 24 July. In line with the Club's longstanding commitment to affordable family football, Adult prices start at just £10 for Bands 4 and 5, with all U16 tickets in Bands 1-5 just £5 for this prestigious fixture.
Hospitality packages are also available from £199 per person. For further information and to purchase, email corporatesales@westhamunited.co.uk or call 0871 091 1811*.
Full Ticket Prices
Band Adult U21s/O65s U16s
1966 £25.00 £25.00 £25.00
Band 1 £20.00 £20.00 £5.00
Band 2 £15.00 £15.00 £5.00
Band 3 £15.00 £15.00 £5.00
Band 4 £10.00 £10.00 £5.00
Band 5 £10.00 £10.00 £5.00
Owing to the date of the Europa League fixture, there will be 54,000 tickets available for the game, so it is possible that some Season Ticket Holders will not have access to their Season Ticket seat. The newly-configured East Stand will already be in its final, football-ready state, meaning Season Ticket Holders in the East Stand will be unaffected and able to sit in their seasonal seats. In other areas of the Stadium where this is not the case, the Club will do everything possible to find supporters the best alternative seats. Tickets go on sale to Season Ticket Holders from 9am on Tuesday 19 July, with a priority window open until Sunday 24 July.
For those who do not have to access to their regular seats for this fixture, there is also the option of an additional 48-hour window, when all previously unsold Season Ticket seats will become available. This will begin at 9am on Monday 25 July and finish on Tuesday 26.
Remaining tickets will be made available to Claret Members from 9am Wednesday 27 July to Thursday 28 July. In the unlikely events that any tickets are still available, General Sale will begin at 9am Friday 29 July.
Additionally, for both the UEFA Europa League fixture and the Betway Cup against Juventus, supporters will be issued with paper tickets.
As well as being advantageous operationally, the Club hope supporters will appreciate having a physical memento of these landmark fixtures in West Ham history.
*Calls cost 10ppm plus your networks access charge.
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Westley hails positive experience
WHUFC.com
Sam Westley is aiming to build on a strong start to pre-season with tonight's friendly away at Peterborough United
The 22-year-old enjoyed a successful loan spell at partner club VVV Venlo
The full-back is looking for further first team experience with a loan in the Football League
Looking ahead to the Development Squad's pre-season friendly with Peterborough United later this evening, full-back Sam Westley spoke of his positive experience while on loan at partner club VVV Venlo. The 22-year-old was the first player to relocate to the Dutch outfit, who went agonizingly close to winning promotion to the Eredivisie, losing out in the play off semi-finals. Reflecting on his time away from east London, Westley has only positive things to say of the experience: "My nine months away was really positive, everything that came out of it was good, both on and off the pitch. "Living in a new country, a new language, different style of play. It took me a while to get into the team because the team was in good form, winning almost every game. We only lost a few games all season. So the manager was picking the same team, fair play really, I'd do the same. "When I did get my chance, we won and it went from there, so it was good."
Now back in the West Ham fold, Westley played the first half of the young Hammers' first friendly of their pre-season preparations – a 2-0 defeat away at Chelmsford City. He continued to describe the difference in lifestyle and culture between the English and Dutch approach to football. Westley explained: "The football was very technical, each stadium apart from two had astro-turf pitches. That in itself makes you play a bit more football, which is good. "Off the pitch, everyone spoke English so that helped massively. I hadn't moved out of home before so it was a big learning experience. I had to learn to cook and generally look afterward myself so it was a big life experience. "I 100% would recommend going out there. The football is obviously the main reason, but added to that, the off-pitch stuff is also very important."
Having clearly enjoyed his time at Venlo, Westley is eager to gain further first team experience on this side of the channel. "I'd like to stay in England this year, look around and see what the options are in League One or League Two. "Winning the U21 Cup last year has helped draw attention to the Dev Squad, so a lot of people are watching our games, it's a good standard but first team football is very important."
In the meantime, Westley is preparing to face the challenge of League One side Peterborough United, kick off tonight is 7.30pm. He finished off by saying: "It was good to get 45 minutes last Friday and to get out there playing. Pre-season has gone well so far, I'm feeling good. "Actually playing, back with the boys is nice. It was 0-0 at half-time, a competitive game so it was good preparation."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 19/07/16 AFTERNOON NEWS ROUND-UP!
BY MITCH FOYLE-YORK ON 19 JULY 2016 AT 4:10PM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
Deportivo La Coruna's midfielder Lucas Perez celebrates after scoring a goal during the Spanish league football match RC Deportivo de la Coruna vs Sevilla FC at the Municipal de Riazor stadium in La Coruna on December 5, 2015. AFP PHOTO / MIGUEL RIOPAMIGUEL RIOPA/AFP/Getty Images
Tyrese Campbell… The battle begins!
The Daily Mail are reporting that West Ham will have to fight off PSV Eindhoven for promising young forward Tyrese Campbell. It is reported that the Dutch club are willing to offer the young striker a solid offer, and it is also rumoured he may even get first team game time for PSV.
Lucas Perez interest:
According to SPORT, West Ham are interested in signing 27 year old striker Lucas Perez, from Spanish side Deportivo. Perez registered 17 goals and 8 assists last season for the Spanish side, and received a lot of praise from Spanish Football experts. In my opinion, this would be a solid signing.
Calleri gets Italian passport:
According to more reports in South America, Calleri has finally been issued his Italian passport. This means he should, if we are to go by rumours, sign for the Hammers in the very near future.
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WEST HAM 2-2 FC SLOVACKO – MATCH REPORT
BY BRIAN KNOX ON 19 JULY 2016 AT 7:29PM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
West Ham played their 3rd pre-season game this afternoon in the Stadion Rohrbach in Austria against their Czech opponents FC Slovacko.
The Hammers named a mixture of 1st team and development squad players in their starting line-up which included the returning Darren Randolph after his excellent exploits for Ireland at Euro 2016 in France.
The back four consisted of Sam Byram and Lewis Page at fullback and the (King of Bradford) Reece Burke and young 17 year old Irish youth International Declan Rice at centreback. Captain Mark Noble anchored the midfield with Pedro Obiang and the returning Josh Cullen. Summer signing from Valencia, Sofiane Feghouli started on the right wing with young Norwegian Samuelsen on the left and Enner Valencia made his first appearance of pre-season in the lone striker role.
The Irons started the game brightly and Samuelsen had the first sight of the FC Slovacko goal in the 12th minute but his header went over the bar after good work from Feghouli. The Algerian was in the thick of things once again as this time he beat numerous men before setting up Valencia but his header also missed the target.
FC Slovacko had a decent spell of pressure for 5-10 minutes but never really troubled the solid Hammers back four or Randolph in goal.
The opening goal came on 37 minutes and what a cracker it was from the Captain. Josh Cullen fed Martin Samuelsen in on the left side and he waited for the perfect moment to cut the ball back for Noble to smash the shot past Meca.
Slaven made five changes at half-time introducing new signings Gokhan Tore and Ashley Fletcher for the first team debuts and also bringing on Michail Antonio, young Portuguese star Domingos Quina and returning midfield powerhouse Cheikh Kouyate.
FC Slovacko started the second half the brightest and within 2 minutes they had the ball in the net but the referee blew for an offence the and the goal was disallowed.
Within 5 minutes Ashley Fletcher kick started his West Ham goalscoring career with an excellent header which beat Meca once again to his left to double the Hammer's advantage over their Czech opponents. This time it was the 16 year old Domingos Quina that set up the goal with a superb cross.
The Hammers more or less controlled the game for the next 20-30 minutes until FC Slovacko started to put some pressure on our back four. With Noble and Obiang off the pitch the midfield looked a little light from a defensive viewpoint and the Czech's side pressure told with two late goals to level the game at 2-2 after Randolph had been replaced by Raphael Spiegel.
Poor marking from a young Hammers' defence allowed Eldar Civic to sneak in and pull a goal back for his side following a corner.
The east Londoners fell asleep again in the 89th minute and Civic grabbed his second goal of the game.
Although Slaven might be a little disappointed that his side didn't hold on to win the game I'm pretty sure he'll be really pleased by some of the performances out there, especially from Burke and Rice who were very solid for the 70 odd minutes they played together and the start Ashley Fletcher made with his goal and overall performance.
The Hammers won't have much time to prepare for their next game though because it will be same time tomorrow against Rubin Kazan.
Match Ratings
Randolph 7
Byram 7
Page 6
Burke 8
Rice 8
Noble 7
Obiang 7
Cullen 7
Samuelsen 6
Feghouli 8
Valencia 6
Subs
Fletcher 7
Tore 6
Antonio 6
Quina 7
Kouyate 7
Martinez 6
Browne 6
Spiegel 6
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CARETAKER RANTS "IT IS NOT FOOTBALL MANAGER, GET REAL"
BY EXWHUEMPLOYEE ON 19 JULY 2016 AT 9:28PM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
Hi everyone, it's been a while since I have had to write a column and have a moan but after reading so much nonsense on twitter for the last month or so I've decided to have a rant!
The club have made several high profile bids for strikers, who for different reasons have pretty much turned us down. They were what you would consider 'big names' for us given the situation we are in, yet I've read loads of feedback from fans who seem to know where we went wrong in our failed bids.
Apparently we left it too long to sign Batshuayi and Chelsea pounced to sign him. What a complete load of rubbish! Signing a player (despite what many of you think) isn't like football manager. The club simply couldn't click a couple of buttons to fast forward the week. Chelsea would have been monitoring him for a while, and didn't suddenly decide to sign him because they read on twitter that we had made a bid for him. The fact he joined Chelsea over us, is totally understandable.
In the case of Lacazette many have claimed it was simply a case of 'giving him an extra 50K a week'. That isn't how football works. Again, it's not football manager with an imaginary budget that can be ignored. The club is run like a business, as is pretty much every football club. Gold & Sullivan aren't hugely successful businessmen for no reason. Lacazette it seems is either holding out for someone like Arsenal or is happy to stay at his hometown club where he has champion's league football next season. Again, totally understandable.
Carlos Bacca is holding out for Atletico Madrid, or maybe even Arsenal depending on what you want to believe. We have had a bid accepted and offered him a large contract. If he decided to join either of the clubs mentioned instead of us then why on earth is that the board's fault?
Another theory I've seen a lot of people mention is that they are only putting in these bids for show, as they knew they wouldn't get accepted. Do people who say that really believe it? After everything they have done for the club do people still think they don't want the best for us? People almost liken the situation to a bloke being drunk at an auction bidding on things he can't afford and doing it to look rich.
Which moves onto my next point. The constant moaning and whinging on Twitter about the fact we haven't signed a high profile striker yet is bad enough. But the comments and sometimes abuse that is aimed towards David Gold and David Sullivan's two sons is simply unacceptable. It is downright ungrateful in my opinion, especially on the back of such a successful season and with the move to the Olympic stadium literally round the corner. I can assure you that the owners are just as every bit disappointed as the rest of us are about our failure (so far) to capture a top striker. If they were only interested in taking the money then they would have already sold the club and made a fortune on their original investment.
Adrian, Antonio, Cresswell, Ogbonna, Kouyate, Payet, Lanzini and Sakho have all been signed in the last two years and are all pretty much first team players. Surely there is enough evidence there to suggest that the board/Slaven will get it right? If the transfer window closes and we are left with Sakho, Carroll and Valencia then I think a lot of the negativity could be justified but considering we are in mid-July I think a lot of people need to be more patient.
Whilst not quite as bad as what I have described above I keep reading people expecting the club to put in bids for players who are miles out of our league. Suggestions we should stick in a big bid for Griezman are completely laughable. Why would one of Europe's hottest players leave a club like Atletico to join us? Cavani is another player we should be trying to make a move for apparently…….get real people, we cannot run before we can walk with these top players. It wouldn't show ambition trying to sign either player, it just shows stupidity.
All this moaning and it almost gets forgotten that we've already signed some excellent players this summer. Tore, Feghouli and Nordvelt are great additions to the squad given that there were some very good teams also after them. The bottom line is guys, just have some faith in the owners/manager to get it right. If the transfer window closes and we still haven't splashed the cash on a striker then by all means come and abuse me, but let's wait until then yeah?
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IF I OWNED WEST HAM-OUR ALTERNATIVE ITK COLUMN.
BY EXWHUEMPLOYEE ON 18 JULY 2016 AT 10:49PM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
Before we start it is important to point out that this column is not written by ExWHUEmployee but by a very well placed source whose feature is called "If I owned West Ham"
If I owned the club, I would have hoped to have a striker by now. I personally think we could have got Janssen, as he must know deep down he will be second choice at Spurs behind Kane. However, we did not and Janssen has gone off to the dark side! Therefore this column will not be about 'what if's', but instead about who you could see coming to West Ham this window.
The main man at the moment is Bacca, but this transfer has gone on for weeks and weeks, which makes me think that we may be back-up for him. There has been talk about him going to Spain, where he has played twice before and was very good. However, Costa has handed in a transfer request today at Chelsea, maybe meaning Atletico will not need him and he will come to us! Personally I would love to see Bacca, for me he is one grade down from world class and has never failed in any league so far. His record speaks masses to me, I have watched him throughout his career and he is really very talented! He is one of the best poachers I've ever seen, therefore age shouldn't be too much of a worry. I belive the board know that Bacca is more of a short fix than a long term one, like Lacazette would have been. I believe at this time it is what the club need, as we do not have champions league football, something we are close to, if you ask me!
If Bacca does not come, I think we need to look at people like Slimani, Mauro Icardi and Kévin Gameiro. I have heard all three players would come, all for about 35 million euros. Gameiro showed he can score in the Premier League, as he scored against Liverpool in Europe this year. He got 16 goals in 31 games in La Liga last year and was great throughout their European campaign, with 8 goals in 9 games, although he is 29 years old and getting on a bit. Someone a little younger is Icardi, he is only 23 and a superstar at Inter. He has scored one goal in every 2 games since he was 20, again a fantastic striker in a very defensive league. The one problem with Icardi, is there is talk that he is difficult in the changing room. Slimani is someone who could be a gamble, a gamble that could pay off or he could be a flop. Slimani plays for Sporting and was fantastic this year scoring 27 goals in 33 games, with 7 assists as well, but once again he is 29 years old. Slimani has only ever been 1 in 2 as well through his time in Portugal, therefore was this year a purple patch?
At West Ham I can't see Sakho or Enner staying, I think it is just a waiting game as others come up with the money for them. For me 15m+ for Sakho is great and although he has potential I can't see him reaching it at West Ham, or maybe ever with his attitude! It is clear he doesn't want to be at West Ham, so for me it's bye bye. I want players who want to play for the club and he has also had his fair share of problems since he has been in England. I think Enner also is someone who needs to go, he has had two years and has struggled to score in our league. A possible replacement for both of these players could be Berahino. If we did a swap deal I would be happy (although whether the board will be has been a talking point), or maybe Ben Yedder. Berahino may be trouble, but I feel a fresh start could be good for him and he would have something to prove if he did come. People are talking about Ben Yedder, however, for me he is not the 20 goals a season striker, although he would be amazing back-up. Someone else who has been talked about is Calleri, he is another gamble but Sullivan loves a South American! This one could pay-off if he can pull it off, as there are lots of top reports on him.
As always I hope you enjoyed my column and it will be very interesting to see what the board do with in the next few weeks…..I hope sooner rather than later.
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19/07/16 LUNCHTIME NEWS ROUND-UP!
BY MITCH FOYLE-YORK ON 19 JULY 2016 AT 11:09AM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
Sakho can only leave IF…
According to Mirror Football, David Sullivan has told Diafra Sakho he can only leave if West Ham sign a suitable replacemant. This, if true, could cause yet another soap opera drama with the troublesome forward, who recently refused to travel to Austria with the rest of the squad.
Sullivan breaks silence on Bacca:
David Sullivan has told The Mirror that Bacca is "hanging about looking to get best deal". However, money does not seem to be the issue. The issue is that Bacca wishes to play Champions League football, and is fending off the Hammers because Athletico Madrid and Sevilla are interested. However, yesterday the Athletico president said that Costa is close to rejoining them, so they have pulled out of the race to sign Bacca.
Adrian gives Payet some TLC:
West Ham's number 1 (or number 13 in this case), Adrian has told the media that he thinks "Payet deserves a rest?". A rest? I think Dimi deserves a gold medal and the keys to Stratford!
Obiang to leave?
According to Tuttosport, highly rated CM Pedro Obiang is seeking a return to Italy as soon as possible. It is believed that Cagliari are very interested in this situation. Pedro himself did tweet something which suggested he would be staying in East London, but as we know, that means nothing. I hope we do not let Obiang to, as he is extremely underrated, and could grow into a top-class player.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 2015/16 in review: April
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 19th July 2016
By: Graeme Howlett
Join us as we take a look back at the 2015/16 season through the eyes of KUMB Editor Graeme Howlett, who penned a weekly column for the Echo newspaper throughout the campaign.
Today we look back at January and February in the penultimate part of our review...
3 April
When both sets of players and managers agree that a player has been harshly sent off, it's difficult to express sympathy with the referee. And when your team had been the victim of a string of similarly-poor calls, it's perhaps no surprise that conspiracy theories begin to emerge,
Only two people have been outspoken in their support of referee Mark Clattenburg's decision to dismiss Cheik Kouyate for a robust but fair challenge on Dwight Gayle during Saturday's 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace at the Boleyn Ground.
One was MotD's commentator, whose view can be dismissed on the basis that he claimed Kouyate went into the challenge two-footed and with studs showing - which simply didn't happen. The other was pundit and ex-Arsenal star Ian Wright, who face the Hammers in their next fixture - sans the influential Kouyate, as it stands.
At the risk of beginning to sound like a broken record, Slaven Bilic's frustration is entirely understandable. Robbed of an FA Cup semi final spot at Old Trafford and two vital Premier League points at Stamford Bridge days later thanks to dreadful decisions, West Ham's season is being affected - negatively - by bad calls from officials.
And the myth which suggests these poor decisions even themselves out over the course of the season is just that - a falsehood that simply has no evidence to support it, yet plenty to suggest otherwise.
In order to determine how much teams are affected, over at Talksport they have been compiling a list of incorrect decisions by referees throughout the season. The aforementioned conspiracists won't be shocked to see the Hammers bottom of this table, having received four incorrect calls in their favour this term - and 11 against.
Conversely, the table is topped by Manchester United (eight for, one against), Leicester (surprisingly perhaps with twelve for and seven against) and then Liverpool, Tottenham and Manchester City.
So whilst it may be going too far to suggest the game is bent - even though it has been claimed in recent days that a great number of Premier League stars have been administered performance-enhancing drugs - it seems that somehow, enough pressure is being exerted upon match officials to cause them to award marginal decisions in favour of the league's elite clubs when push comes to shove.
However the real shame about Kouyate's dismissal and Clattenburg's generally awful performance is that it completely overshadowed another incredible free kick by Dimitri Payet, who is probably the world's premier dead ball specialist at this point in time.
10 April
Slaven Bilic refused to criticise referee Craig Pawson following West Ham United's 3-3 draw against Arsenal on Saturday for fear of sounding "ridiculous".
Bilic - whose team were denied a deserved three points by yet more contentious decisions - has always been uncomfortable using his press conferences to castigate officials for their shortcomings. And it's probably just as well he opted not to examine Pawson's mistakes, as those of us in attendance may have been there all night otherwise!
Pawson - like Bobby Madley at Stamford Bridge and Martin Atkinson at Old Trafford in the weeks preceding this highly-anticipated London derby - gave virtually every 50/50 decision in favour of the visitors, including three crucial goal-related decisions that altered the course of the game.
The 36-year-old official - who was jeered off the pitch at the final whistle, much like Mark Clattenburg following the clash with Crystal Palace last weekend - ruled out a perfectly good Manuel Lanzini goal, allowed a marginally-offside Mesuit Ozil strike to stand before overturning a Dimitri Payet effort as punishment for Andy Carroll committing a foul (that was a 50/50 challenge) moments before in the build-up.
Pawson's erratic performance left Bilic and around 35,000 West Ham supporters fuming, and wondering just what could have been had the PGMOL's 'finest' performed both fairly and adequately this season.
By rights, West Ham should already be in the semi finals of the FA Cup (instead of facing a replay against Manchester United on Wednesday night) and in the top four of the Premier League - a position denied them as a result of a string of mystifyingly-poor calls.
And when former Tottenham star Gary Lineker - no great fan of the Hammers - suggests on Match of the Day that Bilic and his players have every right to feel hard done by, you know it's not simply paranoia that leads one to wonder if everything is above board here.
Sadly Pawson's shortcomings overshadowed what proved to be a thrilling London derby, the last in Upton Park and one that will be fondly remembered for Andy Carroll's stunning hat-trick - almost certainly the last ever to be scored in a competitive fixture at the Boleyn.
Unsurprisingly, the goal-fest led to renewed calls for Carroll to be reintroduced to the England squad, who are preparing for this summer's European Championships in France. Whilst I'm clearly biased, there is nobody in this country as adept in the air as the big, likeable Geordie and it'd be a smart move by Roy Hodgson to take him along.
However having seen the likes of Aaron Cresswell and the in-form Mark Noble continuously denied a crack at the national team by the myopic Hodgson, I - and thousands of fellow West Ham fans - won't be holding our breath...
17 April
Jamie Vardy became the 18th player this season to be sent off in a fixture involving West Ham as title-chasing Leicester held United to a 2-2 draw at the King Power Stadium.
And once again the main post-match talking point this weekend was the referee's performance, rather than any piece of individual skill or flash of brilliance created by one of the 22 players on show.
This week it was Jon Moss' turn to be at the centre of the controversy as he saw fit to dismiss England striker Vardy for diving (a second bookable offence), award a penalty to West Ham after Wes Morgan pushed Winston Reid at a corner and then make amends in the final minute of extra time by awarding the Foxes possibly the weakest penalty you'll ever see.
Moss, whose last game involving West Ham resulted in him erroneously dismissing Cheik Kouyate at Blackburn in the FA Cup (a decision later overturned upon appeal) enjoyed the unusual distinction of being booed off by BOTH sets of supporters following Sunday's clash at the King Power Stadium.
But the sad fact is that these incidents will continue to occur until such time as the Premier League finally see fit to introduce video technology in all areas, as the professional game - especially in the top flight where the stakes are that much higher - is rife with cheats who seek to exploit every possible avenue in order to gain their team an advantage.
Back to the match itself for a moment, where West Ham gave another excellent account of themselves despite falling behind early against a side destined to be crowned league champions this season.
Vardy's first half goal looked like being enough to earn the Foxes yet another 1-0 win until Andy Carroll slotted home from the penalty spot with full time approaching following Morgan's foul on Reid. That in itself was something of a collector's item, being as it was West Ham's first Premier League penalty away from home in some FIVE years!
When Aaron Cresswell volleyed West Ham ahead with just four minutes of normal time remaining it looked as if the Irons had done enough to secure all three points; that was until Moss' crucial intervention, as he awarded the hosts a spot kick deep into added-on time to even things up from which Leonardo Ulloa profited.
The 2-2 draw - West Ham's seventh of an exhilarating season - should be considered a good point but it does the Hammers few favours in their quest for European football next season. The Champions League is all but gone now, whilst Liverpool's game in hand gives them the edge now in the race for sixth place.
24 April
With the FA Cup semi finals in full swing, Slaven Bilic and his West Ham United squad were afforded a rare weekend off.
Although the manager and his players would no doubt have preferred to be in action on Saturday afternoon against Everton at Wembley, the recent quarter final replay defeat at the hands of Manchester United put paid to the Hammers' chances of going any further in the competition.
Of course, by rights West Ham should have been in the semi final without the need for a replay, but referee Martin Atkinson somehow failed to spot Bastian Schweinsteiger's blatant shove on goalkeeper Darren Randolph milliseconds before Anthony Martial's late, late equaliser at Old Trafford in the first meeting.
And that's been the story for West Ham in recent weeks, where a sting of mystifying decisions have essentially killed off any lingering hopes the Hammers may have harboured of qualifying for the Champions League for the first time in their history.
Whilst those may be bitter blows for Bilic, the popular Croat should take solace from a string of outstanding achievements so far season, his first as a manager in the Premier League.
Last weekend's 3-1 win against Watford extended West Ham's unbeaten run at home to 15 Premier League games, a top flight record for United. And with just four games of the season left to play the Hammers have 56 points with a positive (+14) goal difference.
That in itself may appear to be relatively unremarkable, but West Ham's record points tally in a 38-game campaign is 57, achieved on Harry Redknapp's watch nearly 20 years ago, meaning the current squad merely need one more point to match it.
And as incredible as it may seem, you have to go back to 1985/86 and the much-vaunted 'Boys of '86' to find West Ham last finishing a season in the top flight with a positive goal difference, which barring a total collapse will be emulated in a few weeks' time.
Bilic has already started making plans for the 2016/17 campaign, which will commence in August at the Olympic Stadium (which will be known as something quite different by then due to naming rights).
And it's to youth that he's currently turned, with the capture of highly-rated striker Toni Martinez (19) from Valencia and, so it seems, Portuguese midfielder Domingos Quina - still only 16 - from Chelsea's Academy.
KUMB.com exclusively revealed last month that Bilic has already moved to sign 25-year-old Norwegian defensive midfielder Havard Nordtveit from German Bundesliga side BMG; he'll replace Alex Song who is returning to Barca.
So whilst this season may not be ending quite as we'd hoped, there's still plenty of reasons to be cheerful for Bilic, his squad and us fans as the curtain begins to close on a campaign that began way back in July against Andorran minnows Lusitanos in the Europa League qualifying rounds.
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West Ham Utd 2-2 FC Slovacko
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 19th July 2016
By: Staff Writer
An entertaining pre-season friendly ended in stalemate as FC Slovacko came from two down with just five minutes to play to earn a share of the spoils. A first half strike from Mark Noble gave West Ham a half time advantage here in their latest pre-season friendly, the first of three in Austria this week. And when new signing Ashley Fletcher registered his first goal in a West Ham shirt just six minutes after entering the fray, it looked as if Slaven Bilic's side would go on to comfortably record their first win of pre-season. However two late strikes from the Czech First League side stunned the Hammers to earn a draw. The first, on 85 minutes came from Eldar Civic who forced the ball home from close range. And with just seconds of the game remaining, Slovacko gave their small but noisy band of travelling fans the perfect ending when the Bosnian midfielder grabbed his second, with substitute goalkeeper Raphael Spiegel perhaps slightly at fault. Next up for the Hammers is a potentially far tougher test against Russian Premier League side Rubin Kazan, also here in Austria, tomorrow afternoon.
West Ham Utd (starting XI): Randolph, Byram, Burke, Rice, Page, Cullen, Obiang, Noble, Samuelsen, Feghouli, Valencia.
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Sullivan expresses concern at lack of signings
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 19th July 2016
By: Staff Writer
David Sullivan has admitted that he is concerned by West Ham's inability to land any of their key summer targets. Co-owner Sullivan, speaking in an interview with Darren Lewis for the Mirror revealed that he had been left hugely frustrated at a constant stream of rejections from the likes of Michy Batshuayi, Alexandre Lacazette and Vincent Janssen already this summer. And the 67-year-old was forced to admit that it is a possibility that the Hammers may not sign any big money strikers this summer - despite the Board having earmarked a new forward as an essential requirement for the new stadium. "The problem is every striker you go for, there are 10 others clubs interested in him," said Sullivan. "So the player is just hanging about looking to get the best deal. I can't say I blame him. "In a perfect world I would like to think we will bring in a top class striker but we've all got limits on what we can pay. I am a little concerned because I'd like to have signed one by now. But it is what it is. "I would say to people if we don't bring anyone in it is not the end of the world as we were the fourth highest scorers in the Premier League last season – and we haven't lost a striker."
So far this summer Sullivan has sanctioned the purchase of Havard Nordtveit, Sofiane Feghouli, Gokhan Tore and Manuel Lanzini for the first team, whilst the highly-rated Ashley Fletcher, Toni Martinez and Domingos Quina have been added to the Academy ranks.
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Exclusive: Carroll denies injury rumours
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 19th July 2016
By: Staff Writer
Andy Carroll has told fans he is raring to go - despite reports suggesting that he could be sidelined for a matter of weeks. Carroll, who is in Austria with Slaven Bilic and the rest of the first team squad preparing for this afternoon's pre-season friendly with FC Slovacko told KUMB's Matej Mutis that rumours suggesting he is unable to play were wide of the mark. "I talked to AC for a few minutes before the training and he said he isn't injured," Bratislava-based Mutis told KUMB. "After that, he took part in full training with the squad. The only player doing individual [fitness] work was Winston Reid. However he also said that he isn't injured, but it was more like a precaution."
Unlike the recent US tour, Bilic has the bulk of his first team squad available for this week's pre-season tests against FC Slovacko (today), Rubin Kazan (tomorrow) and Karlsruher (Saturday, 23 July). The only players missing from the tour party are Euro 16 stars Dimitri Payet, James Collins and Angelo Ogbonna - plus Diafra Sakho, who reports suggest refused to travel to Austria with the rest of the squad. And according to Mutis, the team looks ready to face Slovacko later today following a strong session this morning - whilst he was particularly impressed by at least one recent signing. "It was light training (some 70 minutes) with 10 against 10 on maximum of three touches," he said. "Of course you can't judge a player after just a short period of time, but Sofiane Feghouli really has some magic in his foot. Toni Martinez looked very-promising too."
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Exclusive: Valencia tight-lipped on future
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 19th July 2016
By: Staff Writer
Hammers striker Enner Valencia refused to comment this morning when asked about his future plans. The £12million-rated Ecuador international is set to leave West Ham this summer having been made surplus to requirements by Slaven Bilic. However he refused to comment on recent speculation when confronted by KUMB's Matej Mutis this morning. "I asked Enner about his situation and he said he is not sure what will happen," said Mutis, who visited the club's training camp in Austria this morning. "When I mentioned Lazio [with whom he has been linked in recent weeks], he just smiled; I suspect he will leave as soon as we manage to sign a replacement."
Mutis, who spoke to a number of players and staff during today's training session also manged to chat with goalkeepers Adrian and Darren Randolph, the latter of whom has also been linked with a move away from West Ham this summer. "I told them 'I hope you both stay'," he added. "Randolph looked at Adrian and joked 'I'm not sure about you, but I am definitely staying' - to which Adrian replied: "I have a contract and I'm staying too!' They both seemed to get along very well."
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Manchester City make official approach to sign West Ham starlet Reece Oxford - Sky sources
By Sky Sports News HQ
Last Updated: 19/07/16 9:18pm
SSN
Manchester City have made an official approach to West Ham about signing youngster Reece Oxford, Sky sources understand. However, City have denied to Sky Sports News HQ that that is the case. Oxford, the 17-year-old central midfielder who shot into the public eye in an impressive display against Arsenal on the opening day of last season, is understood to be valued at £15m by the Hammers. Sky sources understand that the East London club have already turned down a £10m bid for Oxford from Bundesliga club Red Bull Leipzig, while Newcastle have requested to take him on a season-long loan. Oxford rejected a new contract at West Ham at the end of last season, with his current deal still carrying him through to 2018. He made his Hammers debut in the Europa League first qualifying round in July 2015 following Slaven Bilic's arrival as manager, and then became the youngest Premier League player when he started against the Gunners last summer.
He has since played a further 11 games for West Ham but his last may have come as a substitute in the 3-0 win over West Brom at the Hawthorns on April 30.
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West Ham blow two-goal lead against Czech minnows Slovacko to remain winless in pre-season
19:11, 19 JUL 2016 UPDATED 19:11, 19 JUL 2016
BY JACK RATHBORN
Mark Noble and Ashley Fletcher gave the Hammers a two-goal lead but the Synot Liga side stormed back late on to earn a 2-2 draw
The Mirror
West Ham squandered a superb opportunity to pick up their first victory of pre-season with FC Slovacko grabbing two late goals to earn a draw. Mark Noble had given Slaven Bilic's side the lead in the first half when he expertly adjusted his body to slam home a half-volley from the edge of the area into the bottom right corner. Bilic sprinkled plenty of young talent throughout the friendly and was duly rewarded when youngsters Domingos Quina and Ashley Fletcher combined for the latter to double West Ham's lead early in the second half. Quina - who recently signed from Chelsea - sent over a looping cross that Fletcher - a new recruit from Manchester United - converted with a glancing header. West Ham unravelled in the final 10 minutes though with Eldar Civic grabbing a late double to stun the east Londoners. Bilic will not have long to correct mistakes though with West Ham set to take on Rubin Kazan on Wednesday.
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West Ham stars 'duped by conman who lured them in with promise of cut-price Christmas hampers'
Telegraph Reporters
19 JULY 2016 • 3:14PM
The Telegraph
A West Ham employee has told a court he was duped into inviting an alleged conman into the club to sell luxury goods and hampers which never materialised. Player liaison officer Tim De'Ath arranged for a man who called himself Mark Kingston to set up a stall at the football club's training ground after being given his number by then team captain Kevin Nolan. Stephen Ackerman, 48, is accused of defrauding former West Ham manager Sam Allardyce and 12 other players and staff, also including England striker Andy Carroll, out of thousands of pounds by selling them Christmas hampers which were never delivered. Ackerman, of Loughton, Essex, denies 19 charges of fraud, with the alleged proceeds amounting to a total of more than £60,000. The defence argue that Ackerman, who was picked out by Mr De'Ath in an identity parade, was not the man who purported to be Mark Kingston. Mr De'Ath told jurors at Snaresbrook Crown Court that many of the players bought discounted hampers and champagne as Christmas presents from Mr Kingston on December 12 2014. He said: "I ordered three cases of Laurent Perrier champagne and six bottles of Cristal champagne but I never actually paid for anything. "I think the Cristal champagne was a lot cheaper than what you could get it for in the shops. "Most people that actually ordered stuff from him paid on their cards using a chip and pin machine. "A lot of them said they were for Christmas presents so obviously to get them before Christmas."
Ackerman appeared in court wearing a dark suit, white shirt and maroon tie, and took notes throughout the hearing. Prosecutor Richard Milne said he arrived at the club "with all the trappings of a successful businessman", driving a black Range Rover and sporting a silver watch, before tempting staff and players with heavily discounted hampers containing Belgian chocolates, Yorkshire crisps and champagne. He then used a chip and pin machine to obtain the details of several of those who paid by card and access their accounts, Mr Milne said. Mr De'Ath said he was told the goods would be delivered the following Monday, December 15. When he phoned Mr Kingston that day to chase them, he was told the delivery had been delayed because of "the amount of orders".
Mr Kingston said he had spoken to Harrods and Fortnum & Mason. Mr De'Ath said when he contacted Mr Kingston about the delivery, he was given a number to track the orders, but when he searched for it online "there was no such number". The website address he was given, http://www.designerhampers.com, then disappeared from the internet when he checked it on Saturday December 20. Mr De'Ath said he tried to contact Mr Kingston again but by then "his phone had then gone as well - there was no dialling tone to the phone ... I couldn't get in contact with him at all".
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Slaven Bilic takes West Ham training hours before friendly in Austria as new signing Toni Martinez enjoys an ice bath
Andy Carroll and Mark Noble trained hours before West Ham's next friendly
Hammers face Czech side Slovacko at 5pm on Tuesday in Austria
New signing Toni Martinez enjoyed an ice bath at West Ham's Austria base
Carroll said he is relishing pre-season after missing out in recent years
By RORY BRIGSTOCK-BARRON FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 14:45, 19 July 2016 | UPDATED: 14:45, 19 July 2016
West Ham are cutting no corners as they prepare for their first season at the Olympic Stadium as Slaven Bilic had his players out on the training pitch just hours before their next friendly. Still searching for their first victory of pre-season after a defeat and a draw during their tour of the US, the Hammers face Czech side Slovacko at 5pm on Tuesday.
But Andy Carroll and co were put through their paces at their training camp in Bad Tatzmannsdorf, Austria, despite the upcoming fixture. While some of Bilic's players went through ball work in small groups, new signing Toni Martinez gave the thumbs up from an ice bath. The 19-year-old, who scored more than 100 goals in four seasons in Valencia's youth sides, sealed a £2.4million move from Spain in spring and already look initiated into the squad. Tuesday's clash is the first of three friendlies in eastern Europe with fixtures against Rubin Kazan and German team Karlsruher SC. With the friendly against Rubin Kazan coming on Wednesday it is likely that those who underwent the more vigorous training on Tuesday will feature against Kazan rather than the same-day clash with Slovacko.
Carroll, who many thought should have been selected as part of England's Euro 2016 squad, said he was enjoying pre-season after missing out over the last few years due to injuries.
'I can't wait [for the start of the season],' he told whufc.com. 'It's been a long time since I had a pre-season, so I'm really looking forward to starting the new season and before that the Europa League game that's coming up. 'I felt strong at the end of last season. I was injured for a bit at the start, but I came back and felt good. 'I scored some goals, was involved in important games and just want to carry that on this year. 'I'm feeling good. Coming out to Austria and getting myself fit is important. I might miss a couple of games in pre-season just to keep myself fresh and not rush into things, but I'm looking forward to it.
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West Ham winger set off 'Tore-ing' trend in Turkey
Posted by Emre Sarigul July 19, 2016
www.turkish-football.com
West Ham signed Gokhan Tore on a one-year loan move from Besiktas at the start of the month after a lengthy transfer saga. Tore has joined his new teammates for pre-season and is busy preparing for the Premier League campaign. The Turkish international winger scored his first ever league goal under the stewardship of current West Ham boss Slaven Bilic – who was previously in charge of Besiktas. Tore set off a trend in Turkey with his goal celebration which simply became known as Töre-ing. The celebration involves covering ones face with your hand. The 24-year-old revealed the reason behind his celebration shortly after. Tore stated that it was a game his grandmother played with him as a child. Tore was given up for adoption shortly after his birth in Koln, Germany. His grandparents were however, able to win back custody when he was two and hold a special place in his life.
It was his grandfather Sabri who introduced him to football. Tore grew up in a rough part of town but his grandfather made sure he focused on football, taking him to training every week until he passed away aged 14. His final wish was for Tore to play for the Turkish national team and just a year later he broke into the setup makings debut on August 10 2011.
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West Ham insist transfer of Diafra Sakho cannot happen until they have signed a striker
22:30, 18 JUL 2016 UPDATED 23:30, 18 JUL 2016
BY DARREN LEWIS
The Senegal frontman wants to go and clubs at home and abroad are keen but the Hammers missed out on Michy Batshuayi and are now waiting on Carlos Bacca
The Mirror
Diafra Sakho has been warned by West Ham that he will not leave the club unless they first sign a replacement. Senegal striker Sakho's relationship with the east Londoners has broken down, and he has been accused of refusing to fly out for their pre-season trip to Austria. The 26-year-old also handed in a transfer request at the start of the month, after West Ham rejected an £11million bid for him from Sunderland. And Sakho remained in the UK, complaining of illness, when West Ham toured the USA at the start of pre-season.
West Brom, Germany's Hamburg and Spanish side Sevilla are also interested in him. But Hammers chairman David Sullivan - who sold defender James Tomkins to Crystal Palace earlier this month - has insisted the club will not be bullied into flogging Sakho unless it suits them. Sullivan said: "He is not for sale until we get players in. Until we bring strikers in, we simply cannot let strikers go. "James Tomkins was different because we had a surplus in the centre-half department. But until we get at least a couple of strikers we can't let any forward go."
West Ham are continuing to wait on a decision from AC Milan striker Carlos Bacca after agreeing a £26m fee with the Italian club. Bacca wants parity with £125,000-a-week Dimitri Payet. West Ham have offered the Colombia international around £90,000-a-week. The 29-year-old was given time to consider the package after last week's talks, and is understood to be hoping Atletico Madrid make a counter-offer for him. Atletico only view him as their Plan B though, as they are pinning their hopes on persuading Chelsea to sell Diego Costa back to them. Sullivan added: "The problem is every striker you go for, there are 10 others clubs interested in him. So the player is just hanging about looking to get the best deal. I can't say I blame him."
The West Ham supremo has, however, moved to reassure fans concerned that he has not yet landed any of their striker targets. A deal was agreed for Marseille's Michy Batshuayi but then Chelsea swooped at the last minute to land the Belgian for £33m. Lyon have demanded more than £40m for France international Alexandre Lacazette, and the player himself has made it clear he will only leave for a club playing in the Champions League. Sullivan went on: "I would say to people if we don't bring anyone in it is not the end of the world as we were the fourth highest scorers in the Premier League last season – and we haven't lost a striker. "In a perfect world I would like to think we will bring in a top class striker but we've all got limits on what we can pay. "I am a little concerned because I'd like to have signed one by now. But it is what it is."
Sullivan has also insisted the Hammers' England frontman Andy Carroll will not leave, despite interest from several clubs. The 27-year-old scored nine goals during an injury-ravaged campaign last season, and Sullivan said: "Andy has just had the best six months he has ever had for the club and now he has had a couple of operations he should be over all his injuries. "So hopefully he should have an injury-free season and get 15-20 goals.
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West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady gives Sportsmail an exclusive tour of Olympic Stadium ahead of opening match
Head of Sport Lee Clayton is impressed with West Ham's new ground
Hammers chief Karren Brady led the way as she showed Sportsmail around
The name of every season ticket holder will be placed on interior walls
Supporters will be able to order food and drink via a mobile phone app
By LEE CLAYTON FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 12:26, 19 July 2016 | UPDATED: 12:31, 19 July 2016
'Yes, the stadium is beautiful. Nothing is ever perfect, but it's as close as we can get, but nobody is going to be saying "nice stadium Karren, shame about the team" if we do not take the opportunity to grow and improve.' So Karren Brady begins her personal tour of West Ham's new home. Just the two of us and few thousand builders still putting the finishing touches to areas such as the dressing room – initially chosen and designed by Sam Allardyce to replicate Real Madrid, but since stripped and redesigned by Slaven Bilic. Now it will look like West Ham's. I'll declare here and now: I like the stadium and I like what Karren Brady has done for West Ham. No, she didn't ask me to say that. Yes, I pay for my season tickets at the same price as everyone else. Yes, the legacy of the stadium was a mess from the start when athletics thought they could sustain it post-Olympics. Yes, West Ham have got an outrageously desirable deal.
Of course there are concerns about the running track and the distance from the pitch that is the greatest concern for all the locals, but having checked out various levels on my
visit, the views ('sight lines') are impressive and it's a small price to pay, if you'll excuse the pun. Wait until you've sat in it before you make up your mind. This was an invite to a private tour with the lady who has made the tenancy possible and is the first time I've attended the stadium in four years. I also understand what Upton Park means to West Ham supporters. I've been going there for more than 35 years too. The new place will take some getting used to. The former Olympic Stadium feels like a 'Cup Final' venue at present, a day out occasion, rather than a regular residence, but Brady and her team are still working on adding more claret and blue, more finishing touches. The walls inside, for instance, will have the name of every one of the 52,000 season ticket holders from the inaugural season. A clever idea.
There will be a welcome pack to help supporters to settle in, while guidance has been sought from other clubs who have moved into new stadia in recent times. Arsenal have been especially helpful and there is certainly a comparison to be had with the Emirates decor in the multiple bars and function rooms. One important piece of advice offered is that how you visit the stadium the first time will shape habits of the future. West Ham, as with on the pitch, know a strong start would be most useful to expel doubters. Brady also knows this is a chance to change perceptions. 'This stadium gives us an opportunity to help everyone think differently about West Ham. We have a modern stadium in London that I hope will make our supporters proud,' she said, wandering through the new club superstore. 'The culture that Slaven Bilic has brought to the club is that everyone looks up, not down.
'With that in mind, we have refurbished the training ground at Rush Green that will now become first team only. We have four new pitches laid, a warm up area, a warm down area. You name it. We are revising our levels across the club. 'When players come here, I want them to think that we are a club going places.' This is certainly not Upton Park.
In a challenging summer transfer market where finding a 20-goal striker is proving difficult, West Ham have kept all the players they wanted to keep, especially Dimitri Payet, who will not be allowed to go. There has been no contact from prospective takers but none has been sought, whatever the fee potential following his exciting Euro rendition.
It's impossible to imagine what the stadium might be like with Payet leading the play and 60,000 supporters, including 52,000 season tickets holders showing their appreciation. Or what it will be like to travel to and from the stadium. They are the next hurdles to overcome. I returned to King's Cross after my visit in six minutes by Javelin train. Tube and overground links to Stratford's travel hub are regular and with multiple options, which is important for allcomers, home and away.
The referee's room is larger than most, which West Ham fans may smile at given the decisions at the back end of last season which cost them points and games. Supporters attending the European tie on August 4 or the prestige friendly with Juventus three days later should arrive early. As with Wembley, this appears to be a stadium where fans can enjoy the hospitality in comfort and watching big screens, a long way from the dilapidation (and tiny concourse TVs) of their old stamping ground. Pricing of food and refreshments, of course, will be crucial to this plan. Supporters can order ahead for food and drink from an app and a multi-million pound investment in a Wi-Fi system - ready in October - should help this ambitious idea.
So it seems West Ham are almost ready, once the arena comes out of 'athletics mode' following the Anniversary Games, but are West ham fans ready for their new adventure? 'You say some West Ham supporters like to live in the past, talk about the glory days, but this is an opportunity to look to the future with ambition and pride. I believe the supporters will love the stadium, the players will be inspired,' Karren adds. 'OK, away teams may be inspired to play here too, but what do you want me to do about that? All home grounds give the home team an advantage. 'By the time the season starts, there will be no doubt that this is West Ham's new home. 'It will be truly ready for the opening Premier League home game against Bournemouth and hopefully fully ready in time for the home Europa League match and the opening ceremony against Juventus. We have work to do still, but I'm calm. I showed my board around last week and wanted to wait until it had got to this stage. 'For the first two games it will operate below normal capacity, at 54,000. They are not test events as they are proper events, but we will also use those for our fans to get a feel for the new stadium; locating their seats, working out where to go, where are the nearest toilets, that sort of thing.' The move will take some getting used to for many, beyond the inevitable teething problems. Not everyone embraces change.
WEST HAM'S FIRST FEW CONFIRMED FIXTURES AT THEIR NEW HOME
West Ham vs Juventus - August 7
West Ham vs Bournemouth - August 21
West Ham vs Watford - September 10
West Ham vs Southampton - September 25
West Ham vs Middlesbrough - October 1
For instance, it still takes 11 days for the stadium to go from athletics to football mode, although all hope that will become seven days thanks to a new 'skate system' which speeds up the moving of the seats and has been purchased. With that in mind, West Ham have already applied for their first two games next season to be away from home, following the World Athletics Championship. 'That comes with the territory,' Brady says, comfortable with the share. She has found little if any problems with her athletics partners.
One of the walls inside shows medals won here by Olympians as well as West Ham's World Cup titans and trophy winners. 'There's space for a few more, isn't there?', she motions.
'People say "the seats look far away" but it is still in athletics mode. 'Look, this is our new home and we have done all that we can to make it as comfortable as possible for our supporters and football-ready. I hope they will be proud, as I am.' A safe standing area was ruled out early. 'I spent enough time standing as a kid when I couldn't see to believe comfortable seating is the way forward.' This stadium is the way forward for West Ham. Not everyone will agree, but as someone said here in its old guise as the Olympic Stadium, let the games begin.
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David Sullivan offers update on West Ham's pursuit of Carlos Bacca
HITC
Olly Dawes
David Sullivan remains hopeful that Carlos Bacca could sign for West Ham. West Ham United co-chairman David Sullivan has told The Mirror that AC Milan striker Carlos Bacca is 'hanging about looking to get the best deal'. The Hammers have been searching for a big-name striker all summer, but have so far been left frustrated in their attempts to snap up a proven goalscorer. Their current target appears to be AC Milan star Carlos Bacca, who has established himself as one of the top strikers in Europe over the last three years.
Colombian international Bacca, 29, hit 49 goals in 108 games for Sevilla following a 2013 move from Club Brugge, and helped the La Liga side win two Europa League titles before heading to AC Milan last summer. With 20 goals in his first season with the Italian giants, Bacca again proved just how good he is in front of goal - and he seems to have attracted the interest of West Ham. - AC Milan's Carlos Bacca celebrates after scoring a goal.
Italian newspaper Gazzetta Dello Sport recently claimed that Bacca has turned down a switch to the Olympic Stadium after West Ham agreed a €30m (£25m) fee with Milan - but there may still be hope for the Hammers yet. The Mirror report that Bacca is hoping for a late move from Atletico Madrid, but they're prioritising a deal to re-sign Chelsea hitman Diego Costa, leaving West Ham co-chairman David Sullivan to retain hope that Bacca will move to East London. Sullivan told The Mirror that Bacca is 'hanging about' and looking for the best deal right now, and doesn't blame the player for weighing up his options. "The problem is every striker you go for, there are 10 others clubs interested in him," said Sullivan. "So the player is just hanging about looking to get the best deal. I can't say I blame him," he added.
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West Ham to battle Leicester as part of double striker swoop
WEST HAM are facing competition from Leicester for Toulouse's Wissam Ben Yedder, according to reports.
Daily Star
By Joel Watson / Published 19th July 2016
The Guardian say both clubs have been in touch with the Ligue 1 player's representatives as they sound him out over a summer move. The Hammers have been searching hard for more attacking talent this window, but look to have failed in capturing one of their first choice targets: Michy Batshuayi, Alexandre Lacazette and Christian Benteke. But a move for Ben Yedder could mean Slaven Bilic's side have two new players leading the line next season, as they also look close to securing Argentian striker Jonathan Calleri on a year-long loan.
How West Ham could line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation if they signed James Rodriguez
Monday, 18th July 2016
THIS is how West Ham's starting XI could look next season if they were to complete a sensational £67m move for James Rodriguez.
1 / 18
GK: Adrian - The Spanish stopper has proven himself to be a generally dependable keeper, although prone to the occasional mistake
RB: Michail Antonio - The number of wingers at the club suggests he could be deployed in defence again. Although shaky at the back at times, the Hammers haven't been linked with many right-backs, so perhaps Slav trusts him there
CB: Angelo Ogbonna - The strong and dependable centre-back should start at the heart of the defence for the Hammers next season
CB: Winston Reid - The defensively brave New Zealander should slot in alongside Ogbonna
LB: Aaron Cresswell - Impressive again last season and always looked dangerous going forward. There's very little competition for his place
CM: Mark Noble - Enjoyed some of his best days in a West Ham shirt last season, the skipper can run the game from the middle of the park on his day
CM: Cheikhou Kouyate - A monster of a player. The tough central midfielder should be one of the first names on the team sheet
RM: James Rodriguez - The £67m-rated superstar would cause carnage in a fluid attacking midfield system alongside Payet and Lanzini
CAM: Manuel Lanzini - The creative Hammers playmaker is a delight to watch and should keep his place in the team
LM: Dimitri Payet - So much of West Ham's potential success could depend on if they keep Payet. He's silenced all the doubters and has proven himself to be one of the best players in Europe
CF: Jonathan Calleri - West Ham look set to sign the Argentinian striker on a one-year loan deal after missing out on the likes of Bacca and Lacazette
SUB 1: Darren Randolph - A good backup to Adrian, Randolph will be trusted in cup matches and can be relied upon if the No. 1 is injured or suspended
SUB 2: James Collins - The commanding defender always gives his all and is a brilliant man to have in the changing room. Reece Burke should also find himself on the bench occasionally. Tomkins has now left
SUB 3: Sam Byram - Bilic clearly doesn't quite trust Byram fully yet but he should get some opportunities if a new right-back isn't signed. Hammers fans will be hoping to see more of their wonderkid Oxford too
SUB 4: Havard Nordtveit - The new signing should provide cover for the defensive midfield position
SUB 5: Pedro Obiang - The decent, all-round central midfielder can provide good backup
SUB 6: Gokhan Tore - Besiktas have confirmed that Tore has joined the Hammers on loan. Should be a brilliant piece of business. Exciting youngster Martin Samuelsen should also get a few chances
SUB 7: Andy Carroll - Found a brilliant run of form towards the end of last season. One of the best headers in world football, Carroll gives West Ham another option when chasing a game late on
Ben Yedder is approaching the final year of his contract with Toulouse and is expected to cost £8.3m. He was in fine form last year, scoring 17 league goals despite his side almost being relegated, surviving the drop by just one point. The Daily Mail claim Lazio have made a bid for Valencia. And earlier in the month they said Sakho had handed in a transfer request.
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Zinedine Zidane opens the door for Chelsea and West Ham in James Rodriguez pursuit
HITC
Damien Lucas
Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane looks to have opened the door to the likes of West Ham United and Chelsea who have interest in his fringe players. The Hammers have been linked with a shock record bid for Colombian star James Rodriguez as have London rivals Chelsea, as reported by respected Spanish outlet Marca. The record TV deal, increased revenue from having 52,000 season ticket holders - second only to Manchester United - money from the £10m sale of James Tomkins to Crystal Palace and potentially another £20-25m to come from the prospective sales of Enner Valencia and Diafra Sakho mean West Ham are cash rich this summer. Meanwhile Chelsea are backing new boss Antonio Conte with major funds in a bid to return to their former glory and have already signed Leicester City's N'Golo Kante and Michy Batshuayi for a combined total of more than £60 million.
Big bid can lure fading star
Marca reports that any club which matches the Colombian star's £67 million price tag would get the chance to speak to the player who is interested in a move to the Premier League having dropped down the Los Blancos pecking order. And now Rodriguez's manager Zidane has hinted he will need to trim his bloated squad this summer in a pre-season press conference ahead of Real Madrid's International Cup friendlies in Montreal, as reported by Sky Sports. 'It gives you problems' "A large squad gives you a few more problems but that comes with the territory as Real Madrid coach," Zidane said. "I have to play the most competitive side I can and I'll do the same thing this season, that's my responsibility."
If the Hammers and Blues do go head-to-head for James' signature the West Londoners would be clear favourites.
Hammers can trump favourites Blues with Bacca-up plan?
But West Ham co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold are desperate to land a marquee signing ahead of the club's big move to the 60,000 Olympic Stadium this summer. And should Slaven Bilic manage to tempt James' Colombia teammate Carlos Bacca to East London it may well help sway any decision on his future.
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Where can I watch West Ham's friendly with FC Slovacko?
By matt_harris | Posted: July 19, 2016
essexchronicle.co.uk
Cheikhou Kouyate is back after playing in African Cup of Nations qualifiers for Senegal. West Ham fans unable to make the trip to Austria will get to watch the first friendly of their tour on TV this evening. The Hammers take on Czech First League side FC Slovacko at the Stadion Rohrbach in Rohrbach, but the match will be screened live in the UK on Premier Sports, which is available on Sky, channel 428, Virgin 551 and TalkTalk. Kick-off is at 5pm. West Ham head into the match with Dimitri Payet still resting after his Euro 2016 efforts with France, while Diafra Sakho has refused to travel and there are question marks over Andy Carroll's fitness. Michail Antonio and Gorkhan Tore have linked up with the squad after missing the US tour, while Darren Randolph is the first of the club's Euro 2016 players to feature in pre-season. Enner Valencia has resumed training following his involvement with Ecuador in the Copa America, as has Cheikhou Kouyate, who has been playing African Cup of Nations qualifiers with Senegal.
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West Ham confirm Europa League third qualifying round fixture date reversed by Uefa
SAM LONG
Evening Standard
West Ham have confirmed they will play their first ever game at the Olympic Stadium on Thursday, August 4 after Uefa agreed to rearrange the club's Europa League third qualifying round fixtures. The Hammers were drawn against Shakhtyor Soligorsk or NK Domzale on Friday and had been originally expected to host their opponents on Thursday, July 28. But with a UK Athletics event set to take place at the Stratford venue between July 21-24 the stadium owners E20 Stadium LLP would have been left without the week needed to prepare the ground for football. West Ham asked Uefa to reverse the fixtures, with the permission of both of their potential opponents, which the governing body has now granted. A statement on the club's official website read: "The Hammers' agreement with both potential opponents to reverse the tie was given the go-ahead by UEFA on Monday, with the first leg being now being played away from home on 28 July. "The second will take place at the London Stadium - West Ham's first-ever fixture at the Club's new home - at 7.45pm on Thursday 4 August."
Ticket prices for the east Londoners' opening game at their new home have also been released, with fans able to see Slaven Bilic's side in action for as little at £10. West Ham originally planned to open the stadium in a glamour friendly against Juventus on Sunday, August 7, but must now fulfil their Europa League obligations for the Europa League prior to their date with the Serie A champions. Bilic's side finished seventh in the Premier League last term, which was enough to secure a place in Europe's secondary club competition after Manchester United won the FA Cup at the expense of Crystal Palace.
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Michail Antonio explains what will be crazy at West Ham next season
HITC
Michael Stevenson
The fan favourite can't wait to experience life at the Olympic Stadium. West Ham winger Michail Antonio has spoken of his awe at the club's new stadium, in an interview with whufc.com. The 26-year old was a surprise success last season after arriving from Nottingham Forest in the summer and he can't wait to strut his stuff at the Olympic Stadium.
West Ham's co owner David Gold poses outside the construction of the Olympic Stadium. "I didn't realise how big the stadium was until I got inside," said Antonio. "It is massive and hopefully the fans can create the same atmosphere that we had at the Boleyn Ground. "It is crazy that I will be playing in front of 60,000 fans every week. To have those fans pushing us every week will help us throughout the season. "Hopefully I can get the fans going with some more goals and I want the fans to send me ideas on what new ones I can do for them!" he added. Antonio joined the Hammers at the very end of last summer's transfer window for around £7 million – according to Sky Sports – and after initially struggling to break into the first-team, he soon became one of Slaven Bilic's key men. The energetic wide man appeared 32 times for the Hammers, scoring nine goals and grabbing three assists in the process, with some even calling for his inclusion in the England squad for Euro 2016. He will be hopeful of building upon his success next term and with new signing Gokhan Tore primarily operating on the right flank he will have to be on top form to retain his place. West Ham enjoyed an excellent campaign overall last season but will find it difficult to better their 7th place finish with the likes of Liverpool and Chelsea prepared to spend big to strengthen this summer.
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West Ham's Andy Carroll suffering with groin injury: Hitman set to miss European qualifier
WEST HAM have suffered another setback in their striking department with Andy Carroll set for a short spell on the sidelines.
By JACK STAPLEHURST
PUBLISHED: 22:34, Mon, Jul 18, 2016 | UPDATED: 22:49, Mon, Jul 18, 2016
Express.co.uk
The Hammers hitman is claimed to be having issues with his groin, adding to Slaven Bilic's problems in attack. Diafra Sakho has refused to travel with the team on their current pre-season tour to Austria as he seeks a move away from the club this summer. And while Enner Valencia is also edging towards an exit, Carlos Bacca is no closer to joining as he stalls on a £26million switch to east London from AC Milan. Carroll is one of few senior options upfront at the Hammers' disposal as things stand. And although he's travelled with the squad to train in Austria, Jack Sullivan - son of co-chairman David Sullivan - has confirmed on Twitter Carroll is out for up to two weeks. Website Claret & Hugh claim Carroll went for scans on Thursday morning at hospital due to feeling discomfort in his groin. With West Ham facing three friendlies this week, the England striker is not expected to feature as a result. Carroll's history of injury problems will lead the Hammers to be cautionary over his latest small blow. It could now be a race against time to see him fit for European action too, with Europa League qualifiers fast approaching. West Ham's third round of qualifying first leg tie is scheduled for July 28, meaning Carroll is more likely to feature in the return game and first ever fixture at the Olympic Stadium on August 4. Carroll is determined to push on this season though and get regular, extended action under his belt. "I felt strong at the end of last season, Carroll said. "I was injured for a bit at the start, but I came back and felt good. I scored some goals, was involved in important games and just want to carry that on this year. "I'm feeling good. Coming out to Austria and getting myself fit is important. I might miss a couple of games in pre-season just to keep myself fresh and not rush into things, but I'm looking forward to it."
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Injury-prone Andy Carroll leaves West Ham in a predicament ahead of Europa clash
HITC
Damien Lucas
West Ham United are struggling to bring in a top level striker ahead of their big Olympic Stadium move but can Slaven Bilic afford to rely on Andy Carroll? Jack Sullivan, son of Hammers co-owner David, confirmed rumours doing the rounds on social media this week that Carroll has picked up an injury and will miss around two weeks of key pre-season training.
The injury will also likely rule Carroll out of West Ham's crucial two-legged Europa League third qualifying round clash with either Belarus side Shaktyor Soligorsk or Slovenian minnows Domzale on July 28th and August 4th. It leaves Bilic in a real predicament having so far failed to land any of his prime striker targets after bids for Michy Batshuayi, Alexandre Lacazette and Carlos Bacca proved fruitless. Add in the fact both Enner Valencia and the rebellious Diafra Sakho look likely to be moved on with Lazio and Swansea pursuing the Ecaudorian and Sunderland chasing wantaway Sakho and it is difficult to see where West Ham's goals are going to come from. The Hammers were dumped out of last year's competition by minnows FC Astra in the same round they enter it this time out so cannot afford to take anything for granted. No-one is doubting the target man's work ethic. But it is a story West Ham fans have heard all too often before. When Carroll was signed on loan from Anfield by Sam Allardyce in 2012, it seemed a match made in heaven. The club even inexplicably wasted more than £10million on flop Matt Jarvis to provide the ammunition for the 6ft 4 star. Here was a player who cost Liverpool a record £35 million just the year before leading the attack at the Boleyn. Things could not have started much better for the big Geordie as he set up two goals during a towering display in 3–0 home win against Fulham. But a lengthy injury, two words that have cast a shadow over the 26-year-old's career so far, restricted him to just 24 appearances and seven goals that season. He made a long awaited comeback in the following February and scored the only goal in a 1-0 win over Swansea. But in the last game of that season at home to Reading, he was injured yet again.
The benefit of hindsight
Nevertheless the Hammers were unperturbed and pressed ahead with sanctioning an £18 million permanent deal on a six-year contract. It is a deal which outspoken West Ham co-owner David Sullivan has since admitted he wouldn't have done with the benefit of hindsight, as reported by BBC's Football Focus. Three seasons on, and four long-term injuries later, Carroll has become little more than an expensive bonus for West Ham. He always gives 100% and even told the London Evening Standard last season that he blames his full-blooded approach for the injuries he has suffered. When he is fit and firing there are not many better all-round forwards in the Premier League. But that is half the problem, he very rarely is. In the three seasons since making his move to Upton Park permanent, Carroll has made just 56 appearances, scoring 16 goals. The Hammers are taking the Europa League seriously this season and without him it makes qualifying that bit more difficult, even if the East Londoners should have enough quality to advance without him. Many West Ham fans have started to give up on the club's most expensive ever signing and Bilic clearly recognises the need to bring in more firepower. If the Hammers are to better their seventh place finish this season they simply cannot afford to rely on Carroll week in week out.
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West Ham tell wantaway striker Diafra Sakho he will not be sold until replacements have been brought in
Diafra Sakho handed in a transfer request as he looks to leave this summer
Striker refused to travel with the squad for their pre-season training camp
West Ham are on the hunt for a big-name forward replace him
Chief David Sullivan says Sakho will not be sold until they have found one
By KIERAN GILL FOR THE DAILY MAIL
PUBLISHED: 22:30, 18 July 2016 | UPDATED: 00:10, 19 July 2016
West Ham have told wantaway striker Diafra Sakho he will not be sold until replacements have been brought in. The 26-year-old refused to travel with West Ham's squad for their pre-season training camp in Austria and handed in a transfer request as he looks to leave this summer. It is no secret that West Ham are searching for a big-name striker but talks between the London club and Carlos Bacca's representatives have cooled. Bacca wanted to become West Ham's best-paid player alongside Dimitri Payet on £120,000 per week – double what the 29-year-old is currently paid by AC Milan – and that deal does not look close to concluding. David Sullivan, the club's co-owner, admits he is 'concerned' over their lack of additions in attack but had a word of warning for Sakho as he persists with his protest. 'He is not for sale until we get players in,' Sullivan told Sportsmail. Until we bring strikers in we simply cannot let strikers go. 'James Tomkins was different because we had a surplus in the centre-half department. But until we get at least a couple of strikers we can't let any forward go.' Sunderland had a £12million bid rejected for Sakho but are still interested in the Senegal international. They have competition, though, with West Bromwich Albion, Crystal Palace, Swansea City and Newcastle United also in the frame for the player with 15 goals in 43 appearances in the Premier League. Sullivan feels this is as 'barmy' a transfer window he can remember and insists it is tougher than ever to sign a striker. 'The problem is every striker you go for there are 10 others clubs interested in him,' Sullivan added. So the player is just hanging about looking to get the best deal. I can't say I blame him. 'I would say to people if we don't bring anyone in it is not the end of the world as we were the fourth highest scorers in the Premier League last season – and we haven't lost a striker. 'In a perfect world I would like to think we will bring in a top class striker but we've all got limits on what we can pay.' Asked if he is worried, Sullivan said: 'I am a little concerned because I'd like to have signed one by now. But it is what it is.' On Andy Carroll, who last season scored nine goals in 27 appearances in the Premier League, Sullivan said the forward is back to his best following injury problems. 'Andy has just had the best six months he has ever had for the club and now he has had a couple of operations he should be over all his injuries,' Sullivan said.
'So hopefully he should have an injury-free season and get 15 or 20 goals.'
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
West Ham United 2-2 FC Slovacko
Pre-season Match, Tuesday 19 July 2016, Stadion Rohrbach, Rohrbach, Austria
West Ham United were pegged back late in the opening game of their tour of Austria as FC Slovacko struck twice in the final five minutes to deny Slaven Bilic's side victory. The Hammers were cruising after Mark Noble and Ashley Fletcher netted either side of the break and looked well on course for the perfect start to the tour. But Czech First League side Slovacko did not give up and earned themselves a share of the spoils when half-time sub Eldar Civic twice found space inside the area to fire home.
West Ham have a chance to go one better on Wednesday when they take on Russian side Rubin Kazan. Darren Randolph and Enner Valencia were named in the starting line-up following their return from featuring on the international stage for Ireland and Ecuador earlier this summer. After an early booking for Slovacko's Tomas Kosut for a heavy foul on Pedro Obiang, the Hammers began to seize control and Sofiane Feghouli sent over a delicious eleventh-minute cross which Martin Samuelsen headed over the top. Kosut was getting too tight to his man and Valencia took advantage to spin away from him with 22 minutes played. He knocked back to Feghouli, who clipped a cross towards Josh Cullen, but the Czech side cut his dangerous ball out. Slovacko then enjoyed their best spell of the half as Jaroslav Divis nodded wide from a decent position before three corners on the spin came to nothing. Eight minutes before the interval the breakthrough arrived when the Hammers made a strong period of possession count. After working the ball inside from the right, Cullen passed into Samuelsen, who had snuck into space on the opposite flank. The Norway international cut back to Noble, and the No16 did the rest, firing into the bottom right-hand corner. Valencia then blasted a free-kick over the top before Slaven Bilic made five changes at the break, giving Gokhan Tore and Ashley Fletcher first run outs in Claret and Blue.
Just two minutes into the second half, Slovacko thought they had drawn level when former Ipswich Town man Velice Sumulikoski rose highest to nod home. However, the referee spotted a push and the Hammers' lead stood intact. It was a lead that doubled four minutes later when two of the youngsters introduced at the break combined in devastating fashion. Domingos Quina shifted the ball onto his right foot to make space for a cross, and his pinpoint delivery found Fletcher, who steered his header into the bottom right-hand corner. Cheikhou Kouyate had a shot blocked by the legs of goalkeeper Milan Meca and Quina saw his effort from 25 yards deflect behind as the Hammers looked for a third. There was to be a late sting in the tail though, as Slovacko's Civic struck twice in the final five minutes to bring his side level. Both goals came from inside the box, and the equaliser was emphatic as he controlled Davicek's pass before slamming home.
West Ham United: Randolph (Spiegel 71), Byram, Burke, Rice (Martinez 74), Page (Antonio 46), Noble (Kouyate 46), Feghouli (Tore 46), Cullen, Obiang (Browne 69), Samuelsen (Quina 46), Valencia (Fletcher 46)
Subs not used: Adrian, Reid, Cresswell, Carroll, Antonio, Nordtveit, Makasi
Goals: Noble 37, Fletcher 52
FC Slovacko: Meca; Simko (Omyla 46), Kosut (Tok 46), Rada, Reinberk; Sutiulikoski, Danicek; Biolek (Civic 46), Mavlik, Kerbr; Divis
Subs not used: Mlupik, Koro, Ravic, Sadilek, Brecka
Goals: Civic 85, 89
Booked: Kosut
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FT: Peterborough United 1-2 Development Squad
WHUFC.com
FT: That's it! Darren Deadman blows his whistle and the Hammers have secured a valuable victory. Of course, still early in the pre-season but nevertheless the result will be pleasing for all concerned. Even more impressive was the number of eye catching performances out there today. Plenty of positive to discuss!
90+1: GOAL!! Surely a winner?! Alex Pike despatches his penalty coolly after Dan Kemp was brought down following a lovely flicked pass by Luka Belic, excellent play all round. 2-1!
90: Golden opportunity to notch in the final moments as Kemp is played in by Luka Belic. Somehow Taylor makes the save...
88: Final change of the game sees Josh Pask replaced by Ben Johnson.
85: Late pressure from the hosts with a series of corners, Trott does superbly to punch acrobatically to safety.
82: Hector-Ingram twists and turns on the edge of the box, finds a bit of space and directs a shot which is parried and out for a corner. Akinola attacks it but the hosts manage to clear.
80: Two more subs for the Hammers, the Belic brothers are coming on in place of Noha Sylvestre and Grady Diangana - both have out in real shifts tonight.
77: Santos is substituted after falling awkwardly, he's been there best player tonight, a commanding presence at the back throughout.
74: The match is becoming increasingly more stretched with chances at the back for both sides. Anthony Scully is on for Jaanai Gordon.
70: Hector-Ingram goes on a mazey run, it's all Posh can do to foul him, however they play it short and the chance comes to nothing.
68: Dan Kemp shows lovely feet to spin his man and then wins the foul, excellent play from the winger.
65: Peterborough ring the changes as seven substitutes prepare to come on. The Hammers also take the opportunity to make a change as Jahmal Hector-Ingram replaces Sam Ford.
62: Mercifully, the temperature has dropped but the pace of the game certainly hasn't. The hosts have grown in stature since the equaliser and are pressing for a second goal.
58: Westley makes some further changes as youngsters Mason Barrett and Alfie Lewis are replaced by Conor Coventry and Rosaire Longelo.
50: Gordon really looks hungry tonight, he runs onto the ball over the top, tries to lift it over substitute goalkeeper Mark Taylor only for Santos to clear it off the line!
47: We're back underway and not exactly the start the Hammers had in mind. Coulthirst goes haring down the right-flank, gets goal side and is felled. He picks himself up and sends Trott the wrong way. 1-1.
46: Just the one change for the Hammers at half-time as Dan Kemp replaces Joe Powell in a like-for-like swap.
45: Andrew Hughes tries his luck from distance, and he connects ever so well as the ball whistles past the far post. Half-time.
43: Pike wins back possession superbly and then finds Diangana who needs no invitation to burst forward. He plays a good ball to Gordon, driving into the box, yet Ricardo Santos outmuscles his marker.
40: Five minutes to go until half time and a very good one from a West Ham point of view. That's not to say Peterborough haven't had their chances, it's certainly all to play for!
36: Coulthirst looks to make the most of a loose ball as he drives toward the edge of the box. He lets fly, it's not a bad effort but Trott is comfortable enough to watch it fly past the far post.
34: Diangana shows a clean set of heels as he takes it from the right touch line to edge to the edge of the box and plays in Powell. Posh have defenders back in numbers and they manage to crowd him out.
31: Bermudan-born Nathan Trott is alert and on his toes to grab Coulthirst's shot from the edge of the box.
28: Posh continue to press and Pike does superbly to get his head to Ferrier's cross, Da Silva Lopes was lurking just behind and almost certain to score.
24: Mason Barrett is having a busy afternoon as the majority of the attacks are coming down his side, but he's doing well and puts an end to another attack with another brave tackle.
21: Coulthirst is in, and he should score, yet a combination of Pask and Akinola get a crucial block in. The first, and eventually second, corner is cleared.
19: Hayden White dinks a floated cross into the six yard box however Alex Pike is on hand to head the danger away. His clearance falls to Ford who tries to play in Gordon but the pass has just too much on it.
17: Despite the heat, this game is being played an impressive tempo and competitiveness. Very little 'friendly' about it. Grady Diangana is showing so very bright signs, as is Lewis who blazes narrowly over from 25-yards.
13: Giving Pask the captaincy looks to be a stroke of genius so far, he's take the mantle and then some. Nothing's getting past him in the early exchanges, and he looks calm and composed in possession.
11: Again, Posh respond strongly. Callum Chettle shows a burst of pace and lays it to Ferrier on the right-wing, he makes room for the cross and finds Shaquile Coulhirst who blazes over.
8: Another chance! Superb football from the youngster - Terry Westley must be loving what he is seeing. Joe Powell and Alfie Lewis and dictating the tempo, Powell feeds Gordon who in turn plays in Sam Ford. The striker spins on a six-pence and lashes it goalward, forcing Ben Alnwick into a fine save at the near post. That move deserved a goal!
5: Moments later Posh look to equalise however Morgan Ferrier is denied by a superb save by the on-rushing Nathan Trott. Frantic and open start. The travelling Hammers are loving it!
3: GOAL! What a start for the Hammers. Josh Pask wins the ball superbly, bursts forward, beating two men, splits the defence and Jaanai Gordon is on hand to slot it home - excellent finish. 1-0. COYI!
1: Here we go then! Josh Pask, tonight's captain, leads the side out in front of a healthy crowd. The hosts are in traditional blue and white, the young Hammers are in the new away kit of white shirt and socks with electric blue shorts. It's Posh to get us under way...
7.20pm: Westley makes six changes to the starting XI that played against Chelmsford City last Friday. Trott, Pike, Barrett, Pask, Ford and Diangana all keep their places, while Lewis, Akinola, Powell, Sylvestre and Gordon, facing his former side, come in for Cullen, Antonio, Fletcher, S Westley and Coventry.
7.15pm: Good evening all, I hope you've all enjoyed the sunshine today! It's still absolutely sweltering here at the Abax, making what appears to be a tough test even harder for Terry Westley's youngsters.
Peterborough United: Alnwick, White, Hughes, Santos, Tafazolli, Bostwick, Chettle, J Anderson, Coulthirst, Da Silva Lopes, Ferrier
Subs: Tyler, Freestone, Nabi, Taylor, Maddison, Nichols, Taylor, Inman, Smith, Baldwin, Edwards, Stevens
Development Squad: Trott, Pike, Barrett, Lewis, Akinola, Pask, Powell, Sylvestre, Ford, Diangana, Gordon
Subs: Kemp, Matrevics, Hector-Ingram, Scully, Coventry, L Belic, K Belic, Wells, Johnson, Longelo
7pm: Hello and welcome to tonight's coverage from the Abax as a youthful Dev Squad take on League One Peterborough. Team news to follow shortly.
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From the Boardroom - David Sullivan
WHUFC.com
The start of the new season is nearly upon us and we are now preparing to play our first game in the UEFA Europa League after the draw was made for the third qualifying round last week. We will be heading to Slovenia or Belarus and I would like to thank the two clubs and UEFA for agreeing to reverse the tie We have announced our prices for the home tie which will be our first game at the new Stadium on Thursday 4 August and have once again shown that we will continue our longstanding commitment to affordable family football. We have priced our first game incredibly cheaply to allow as many supporters to come as possible, as we also have a mouthwatering friendly against Juventus three days later.
I was shown around our new home last week and I can assure our fans that they will be impressed. The seats are bigger, the transport links are fantastic and this will be a Stadium that the West Ham fans will be proud of. Slaven and the players are currently working hard in Austria as they continue their pre-season preparations and the new signings we have made are getting to know each other in the build-up to the first Premier League game. The hard work continues behind the scenes as we look to bring more new players into the squad.
Our search for a new forward has been well documented and we have been working hard to negotiate moves for some big name strikers. Ideally we would have had someone in place by now but sadly that has not proved to be the case and the forwards we have targeted want to play Champions League football. Whatever deal we offer to that player, if he wants Champions League football he will not come to us. We have still got some fantastic strikers at the Club and we were the fourth highest scorers in the Premier League last season. In a perfect world I would like to think we will bring in a top class striker before the transfer window closes at the end of August, but if that doesn't happen I have every confidence in our current strikers to continue doing the business.
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Bournemouth ballot for Claret Members
WHUFC.com
A ticket ballot for West Ham United's historic Premier League curtain raiser at London Stadium is to open exclusively to Claret Members at 9am on Wednesday 20 July.
Claret Members have until 5pm on Wednesday 27 July to enter the ballot for the landmark visit of Bournemouth on Sunday 21 August, as the Hammers start out life on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
To do so, Claret Members are required to login to their Ticketmaster account via www.eticketing.co.uk/whufc, select the fixture and add to basket.
The Club is keen to ensure that Claret Members can sit alongside friends and family for the unmissable fixture, and so fans wishing to apply with other members should include all client reference numbers in the one transaction, and, if successful, will be seated together.
By becoming a member today, supporters not only ensure access to the ballot, but will be guaranteed exclusive ticket priority for every Premier League home game during the first season in our stunning new Stadium.
With 50,000 plus Season Ticket Holders, an even greater number on the waiting list and tens of thousands of Claret Members already registered, Claret Membership is your access to home match tickets in this unique season.
Membership is priced at just £40 for adults and £25 for under-16s, with supporters already on the Season Ticket Waiting List eligible for a £5 discount.
Similarly, Claret Members can also join the Season Ticket Waiting List for the reduced price of just £5.
Supporters entering the ballot have the option of selecting up to a maximum of two price points. If you are happy to accept any price band, and thereby increasing the likelihood of being successful, kindly select your preferred area of the Stadium and leave the second option blank.
Cat B Adult U16s/U21s/O65s/Dis.
1966 £60.00 £60.00
Band 1 £50.00 £25.00
Band 2 £45.00 £22.50
Band 3 £40.00 £20.00
Band 4 £40.00 £20.00
Band 5 £30.00 £15.00
The ballot closes at 5pm on Wednesday 27 July and successful supporters will be notified via email on Thursday 28 July.
Hospitality packages for this fixture are available to buy now from £349 +VAT per person. For further information and to purchase, email corporatesales@westhamunited.co.uk or call 0871 091 1811*.
*Calls cost 10ppm plus your networks access charge.
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Jurcevic happy with Slovacko workout
WHUFC.com
West Ham United might have been pegged back at the death in Tuesday's 2-2 draw with Czech side 1. FC Slovacko, but assistant manager Nikola Jurcevic preferred to focus on a positive performance. The Hammers were the dominant force at the Stadion Rohrbach in Austria and looked well set for victory when Mark Noble and Ashley Fletcher netted in 16 minutes either side of the interval. Martin Samuelsen, Enner Valencia and Cheikhou Kouayte all went close, only for Slovacko man Eldar Civic to notch twice in the final five minutes. It meant the Club's tour to Austria started with a draw, but Jurcevic was pleased with the workout and the display his team gave. He explained: "It was a very important test for us, because we were playing a similar opponent to those who we will face in the Europa League qualification games. "I think we played very well for most of the game, but in the finish did not have enough concentration for those final minutes. We made a lot of changes and some players were tired too. "However, overall we can be satisfied with this match because we trained hard yesterday, we trained hard this morning and we played also without some of our important players. "All together, I think it was a good performance from our team. Results are not so important in these test games, it is much more important is to be fit for our games in Europa League qualification and the Premier League."
The Hammers are now close to having their full squad back from their international commitments in Europe, South America and Africa over the summer and Jurcevic is delighted to see it all coming together. He continued: "For us, it was a boost to have the players back and they played together for the first time in a long time. "You could see Kouyate, Feghouli, Tore, Valencia, Randolph, they're all in good shape and their performance was very good."
The Hammers are back at it quickly, with a game against Rubin Kazan on Wednesday, so Jurcevic is looking forward to another useful 90 minutes. He added: "Now we play Rubin Kazan on Wednesday and we will mix the team again. Maybe we will have some young players at half time, and we will play with more of the experienced players too. "We'll have players like Nordtveit and Cresswell and I think in every game we play we will be better. "We were happy with everything in America, where we made a good job, and now we've started the second part of pre-season and we are absolutely happy with everything here in Austria."
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Europa League tie reversed
WHUFC.com
Shakhtyor Soligorsk of Belarus or NK Domzale of Slovenia will be first visitors to London Stadium
UEFA confirm that tie has been reversed and West Ham United will be at home on 4 August
Ticket for UEFA Europa League home opener on sale to Season Ticket Holders from Tuesday 19 July
West Ham United can confirm that Slaven Bilic's side will host Shakhtyor Soligorsk of Belarus or NK Domzale of Slovenia on Thursday 4 August in the UEFA Europa League third qualifying round second leg. The Hammers' agreement with both potential opponents to reverse the tie was given the go-ahead by UEFA on Monday, with the first leg being now being played away from home on 28 July. The second will take place at the London Stadium - West Ham's first-ever fixture at the Club's new home - at 7.45pm on Thursday 4 August. Tickets for this eagerly-anticipated European match go on sale to Season Ticket Holders from 9am on Tuesday 19 July, with a priority window open until Sunday 24 July. In line with the Club's longstanding commitment to affordable family football, Adult prices start at just £10 for Bands 4 and 5, with all U16 tickets in Bands 1-5 just £5 for this prestigious fixture.
Hospitality packages are also available from £199 per person. For further information and to purchase, email corporatesales@westhamunited.co.uk or call 0871 091 1811*.
Full Ticket Prices
Band Adult U21s/O65s U16s
1966 £25.00 £25.00 £25.00
Band 1 £20.00 £20.00 £5.00
Band 2 £15.00 £15.00 £5.00
Band 3 £15.00 £15.00 £5.00
Band 4 £10.00 £10.00 £5.00
Band 5 £10.00 £10.00 £5.00
Owing to the date of the Europa League fixture, there will be 54,000 tickets available for the game, so it is possible that some Season Ticket Holders will not have access to their Season Ticket seat. The newly-configured East Stand will already be in its final, football-ready state, meaning Season Ticket Holders in the East Stand will be unaffected and able to sit in their seasonal seats. In other areas of the Stadium where this is not the case, the Club will do everything possible to find supporters the best alternative seats. Tickets go on sale to Season Ticket Holders from 9am on Tuesday 19 July, with a priority window open until Sunday 24 July.
For those who do not have to access to their regular seats for this fixture, there is also the option of an additional 48-hour window, when all previously unsold Season Ticket seats will become available. This will begin at 9am on Monday 25 July and finish on Tuesday 26.
Remaining tickets will be made available to Claret Members from 9am Wednesday 27 July to Thursday 28 July. In the unlikely events that any tickets are still available, General Sale will begin at 9am Friday 29 July.
Additionally, for both the UEFA Europa League fixture and the Betway Cup against Juventus, supporters will be issued with paper tickets.
As well as being advantageous operationally, the Club hope supporters will appreciate having a physical memento of these landmark fixtures in West Ham history.
*Calls cost 10ppm plus your networks access charge.
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Westley hails positive experience
WHUFC.com
Sam Westley is aiming to build on a strong start to pre-season with tonight's friendly away at Peterborough United
The 22-year-old enjoyed a successful loan spell at partner club VVV Venlo
The full-back is looking for further first team experience with a loan in the Football League
Looking ahead to the Development Squad's pre-season friendly with Peterborough United later this evening, full-back Sam Westley spoke of his positive experience while on loan at partner club VVV Venlo. The 22-year-old was the first player to relocate to the Dutch outfit, who went agonizingly close to winning promotion to the Eredivisie, losing out in the play off semi-finals. Reflecting on his time away from east London, Westley has only positive things to say of the experience: "My nine months away was really positive, everything that came out of it was good, both on and off the pitch. "Living in a new country, a new language, different style of play. It took me a while to get into the team because the team was in good form, winning almost every game. We only lost a few games all season. So the manager was picking the same team, fair play really, I'd do the same. "When I did get my chance, we won and it went from there, so it was good."
Now back in the West Ham fold, Westley played the first half of the young Hammers' first friendly of their pre-season preparations – a 2-0 defeat away at Chelmsford City. He continued to describe the difference in lifestyle and culture between the English and Dutch approach to football. Westley explained: "The football was very technical, each stadium apart from two had astro-turf pitches. That in itself makes you play a bit more football, which is good. "Off the pitch, everyone spoke English so that helped massively. I hadn't moved out of home before so it was a big learning experience. I had to learn to cook and generally look afterward myself so it was a big life experience. "I 100% would recommend going out there. The football is obviously the main reason, but added to that, the off-pitch stuff is also very important."
Having clearly enjoyed his time at Venlo, Westley is eager to gain further first team experience on this side of the channel. "I'd like to stay in England this year, look around and see what the options are in League One or League Two. "Winning the U21 Cup last year has helped draw attention to the Dev Squad, so a lot of people are watching our games, it's a good standard but first team football is very important."
In the meantime, Westley is preparing to face the challenge of League One side Peterborough United, kick off tonight is 7.30pm. He finished off by saying: "It was good to get 45 minutes last Friday and to get out there playing. Pre-season has gone well so far, I'm feeling good. "Actually playing, back with the boys is nice. It was 0-0 at half-time, a competitive game so it was good preparation."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 19/07/16 AFTERNOON NEWS ROUND-UP!
BY MITCH FOYLE-YORK ON 19 JULY 2016 AT 4:10PM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
Deportivo La Coruna's midfielder Lucas Perez celebrates after scoring a goal during the Spanish league football match RC Deportivo de la Coruna vs Sevilla FC at the Municipal de Riazor stadium in La Coruna on December 5, 2015. AFP PHOTO / MIGUEL RIOPAMIGUEL RIOPA/AFP/Getty Images
Tyrese Campbell… The battle begins!
The Daily Mail are reporting that West Ham will have to fight off PSV Eindhoven for promising young forward Tyrese Campbell. It is reported that the Dutch club are willing to offer the young striker a solid offer, and it is also rumoured he may even get first team game time for PSV.
Lucas Perez interest:
According to SPORT, West Ham are interested in signing 27 year old striker Lucas Perez, from Spanish side Deportivo. Perez registered 17 goals and 8 assists last season for the Spanish side, and received a lot of praise from Spanish Football experts. In my opinion, this would be a solid signing.
Calleri gets Italian passport:
According to more reports in South America, Calleri has finally been issued his Italian passport. This means he should, if we are to go by rumours, sign for the Hammers in the very near future.
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WEST HAM 2-2 FC SLOVACKO – MATCH REPORT
BY BRIAN KNOX ON 19 JULY 2016 AT 7:29PM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
West Ham played their 3rd pre-season game this afternoon in the Stadion Rohrbach in Austria against their Czech opponents FC Slovacko.
The Hammers named a mixture of 1st team and development squad players in their starting line-up which included the returning Darren Randolph after his excellent exploits for Ireland at Euro 2016 in France.
The back four consisted of Sam Byram and Lewis Page at fullback and the (King of Bradford) Reece Burke and young 17 year old Irish youth International Declan Rice at centreback. Captain Mark Noble anchored the midfield with Pedro Obiang and the returning Josh Cullen. Summer signing from Valencia, Sofiane Feghouli started on the right wing with young Norwegian Samuelsen on the left and Enner Valencia made his first appearance of pre-season in the lone striker role.
The Irons started the game brightly and Samuelsen had the first sight of the FC Slovacko goal in the 12th minute but his header went over the bar after good work from Feghouli. The Algerian was in the thick of things once again as this time he beat numerous men before setting up Valencia but his header also missed the target.
FC Slovacko had a decent spell of pressure for 5-10 minutes but never really troubled the solid Hammers back four or Randolph in goal.
The opening goal came on 37 minutes and what a cracker it was from the Captain. Josh Cullen fed Martin Samuelsen in on the left side and he waited for the perfect moment to cut the ball back for Noble to smash the shot past Meca.
Slaven made five changes at half-time introducing new signings Gokhan Tore and Ashley Fletcher for the first team debuts and also bringing on Michail Antonio, young Portuguese star Domingos Quina and returning midfield powerhouse Cheikh Kouyate.
FC Slovacko started the second half the brightest and within 2 minutes they had the ball in the net but the referee blew for an offence the and the goal was disallowed.
Within 5 minutes Ashley Fletcher kick started his West Ham goalscoring career with an excellent header which beat Meca once again to his left to double the Hammer's advantage over their Czech opponents. This time it was the 16 year old Domingos Quina that set up the goal with a superb cross.
The Hammers more or less controlled the game for the next 20-30 minutes until FC Slovacko started to put some pressure on our back four. With Noble and Obiang off the pitch the midfield looked a little light from a defensive viewpoint and the Czech's side pressure told with two late goals to level the game at 2-2 after Randolph had been replaced by Raphael Spiegel.
Poor marking from a young Hammers' defence allowed Eldar Civic to sneak in and pull a goal back for his side following a corner.
The east Londoners fell asleep again in the 89th minute and Civic grabbed his second goal of the game.
Although Slaven might be a little disappointed that his side didn't hold on to win the game I'm pretty sure he'll be really pleased by some of the performances out there, especially from Burke and Rice who were very solid for the 70 odd minutes they played together and the start Ashley Fletcher made with his goal and overall performance.
The Hammers won't have much time to prepare for their next game though because it will be same time tomorrow against Rubin Kazan.
Match Ratings
Randolph 7
Byram 7
Page 6
Burke 8
Rice 8
Noble 7
Obiang 7
Cullen 7
Samuelsen 6
Feghouli 8
Valencia 6
Subs
Fletcher 7
Tore 6
Antonio 6
Quina 7
Kouyate 7
Martinez 6
Browne 6
Spiegel 6
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CARETAKER RANTS "IT IS NOT FOOTBALL MANAGER, GET REAL"
BY EXWHUEMPLOYEE ON 19 JULY 2016 AT 9:28PM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
Hi everyone, it's been a while since I have had to write a column and have a moan but after reading so much nonsense on twitter for the last month or so I've decided to have a rant!
The club have made several high profile bids for strikers, who for different reasons have pretty much turned us down. They were what you would consider 'big names' for us given the situation we are in, yet I've read loads of feedback from fans who seem to know where we went wrong in our failed bids.
Apparently we left it too long to sign Batshuayi and Chelsea pounced to sign him. What a complete load of rubbish! Signing a player (despite what many of you think) isn't like football manager. The club simply couldn't click a couple of buttons to fast forward the week. Chelsea would have been monitoring him for a while, and didn't suddenly decide to sign him because they read on twitter that we had made a bid for him. The fact he joined Chelsea over us, is totally understandable.
In the case of Lacazette many have claimed it was simply a case of 'giving him an extra 50K a week'. That isn't how football works. Again, it's not football manager with an imaginary budget that can be ignored. The club is run like a business, as is pretty much every football club. Gold & Sullivan aren't hugely successful businessmen for no reason. Lacazette it seems is either holding out for someone like Arsenal or is happy to stay at his hometown club where he has champion's league football next season. Again, totally understandable.
Carlos Bacca is holding out for Atletico Madrid, or maybe even Arsenal depending on what you want to believe. We have had a bid accepted and offered him a large contract. If he decided to join either of the clubs mentioned instead of us then why on earth is that the board's fault?
Another theory I've seen a lot of people mention is that they are only putting in these bids for show, as they knew they wouldn't get accepted. Do people who say that really believe it? After everything they have done for the club do people still think they don't want the best for us? People almost liken the situation to a bloke being drunk at an auction bidding on things he can't afford and doing it to look rich.
Which moves onto my next point. The constant moaning and whinging on Twitter about the fact we haven't signed a high profile striker yet is bad enough. But the comments and sometimes abuse that is aimed towards David Gold and David Sullivan's two sons is simply unacceptable. It is downright ungrateful in my opinion, especially on the back of such a successful season and with the move to the Olympic stadium literally round the corner. I can assure you that the owners are just as every bit disappointed as the rest of us are about our failure (so far) to capture a top striker. If they were only interested in taking the money then they would have already sold the club and made a fortune on their original investment.
Adrian, Antonio, Cresswell, Ogbonna, Kouyate, Payet, Lanzini and Sakho have all been signed in the last two years and are all pretty much first team players. Surely there is enough evidence there to suggest that the board/Slaven will get it right? If the transfer window closes and we are left with Sakho, Carroll and Valencia then I think a lot of the negativity could be justified but considering we are in mid-July I think a lot of people need to be more patient.
Whilst not quite as bad as what I have described above I keep reading people expecting the club to put in bids for players who are miles out of our league. Suggestions we should stick in a big bid for Griezman are completely laughable. Why would one of Europe's hottest players leave a club like Atletico to join us? Cavani is another player we should be trying to make a move for apparently…….get real people, we cannot run before we can walk with these top players. It wouldn't show ambition trying to sign either player, it just shows stupidity.
All this moaning and it almost gets forgotten that we've already signed some excellent players this summer. Tore, Feghouli and Nordvelt are great additions to the squad given that there were some very good teams also after them. The bottom line is guys, just have some faith in the owners/manager to get it right. If the transfer window closes and we still haven't splashed the cash on a striker then by all means come and abuse me, but let's wait until then yeah?
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IF I OWNED WEST HAM-OUR ALTERNATIVE ITK COLUMN.
BY EXWHUEMPLOYEE ON 18 JULY 2016 AT 10:49PM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
Before we start it is important to point out that this column is not written by ExWHUEmployee but by a very well placed source whose feature is called "If I owned West Ham"
If I owned the club, I would have hoped to have a striker by now. I personally think we could have got Janssen, as he must know deep down he will be second choice at Spurs behind Kane. However, we did not and Janssen has gone off to the dark side! Therefore this column will not be about 'what if's', but instead about who you could see coming to West Ham this window.
The main man at the moment is Bacca, but this transfer has gone on for weeks and weeks, which makes me think that we may be back-up for him. There has been talk about him going to Spain, where he has played twice before and was very good. However, Costa has handed in a transfer request today at Chelsea, maybe meaning Atletico will not need him and he will come to us! Personally I would love to see Bacca, for me he is one grade down from world class and has never failed in any league so far. His record speaks masses to me, I have watched him throughout his career and he is really very talented! He is one of the best poachers I've ever seen, therefore age shouldn't be too much of a worry. I belive the board know that Bacca is more of a short fix than a long term one, like Lacazette would have been. I believe at this time it is what the club need, as we do not have champions league football, something we are close to, if you ask me!
If Bacca does not come, I think we need to look at people like Slimani, Mauro Icardi and Kévin Gameiro. I have heard all three players would come, all for about 35 million euros. Gameiro showed he can score in the Premier League, as he scored against Liverpool in Europe this year. He got 16 goals in 31 games in La Liga last year and was great throughout their European campaign, with 8 goals in 9 games, although he is 29 years old and getting on a bit. Someone a little younger is Icardi, he is only 23 and a superstar at Inter. He has scored one goal in every 2 games since he was 20, again a fantastic striker in a very defensive league. The one problem with Icardi, is there is talk that he is difficult in the changing room. Slimani is someone who could be a gamble, a gamble that could pay off or he could be a flop. Slimani plays for Sporting and was fantastic this year scoring 27 goals in 33 games, with 7 assists as well, but once again he is 29 years old. Slimani has only ever been 1 in 2 as well through his time in Portugal, therefore was this year a purple patch?
At West Ham I can't see Sakho or Enner staying, I think it is just a waiting game as others come up with the money for them. For me 15m+ for Sakho is great and although he has potential I can't see him reaching it at West Ham, or maybe ever with his attitude! It is clear he doesn't want to be at West Ham, so for me it's bye bye. I want players who want to play for the club and he has also had his fair share of problems since he has been in England. I think Enner also is someone who needs to go, he has had two years and has struggled to score in our league. A possible replacement for both of these players could be Berahino. If we did a swap deal I would be happy (although whether the board will be has been a talking point), or maybe Ben Yedder. Berahino may be trouble, but I feel a fresh start could be good for him and he would have something to prove if he did come. People are talking about Ben Yedder, however, for me he is not the 20 goals a season striker, although he would be amazing back-up. Someone else who has been talked about is Calleri, he is another gamble but Sullivan loves a South American! This one could pay-off if he can pull it off, as there are lots of top reports on him.
As always I hope you enjoyed my column and it will be very interesting to see what the board do with in the next few weeks…..I hope sooner rather than later.
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19/07/16 LUNCHTIME NEWS ROUND-UP!
BY MITCH FOYLE-YORK ON 19 JULY 2016 AT 11:09AM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
Sakho can only leave IF…
According to Mirror Football, David Sullivan has told Diafra Sakho he can only leave if West Ham sign a suitable replacemant. This, if true, could cause yet another soap opera drama with the troublesome forward, who recently refused to travel to Austria with the rest of the squad.
Sullivan breaks silence on Bacca:
David Sullivan has told The Mirror that Bacca is "hanging about looking to get best deal". However, money does not seem to be the issue. The issue is that Bacca wishes to play Champions League football, and is fending off the Hammers because Athletico Madrid and Sevilla are interested. However, yesterday the Athletico president said that Costa is close to rejoining them, so they have pulled out of the race to sign Bacca.
Adrian gives Payet some TLC:
West Ham's number 1 (or number 13 in this case), Adrian has told the media that he thinks "Payet deserves a rest?". A rest? I think Dimi deserves a gold medal and the keys to Stratford!
Obiang to leave?
According to Tuttosport, highly rated CM Pedro Obiang is seeking a return to Italy as soon as possible. It is believed that Cagliari are very interested in this situation. Pedro himself did tweet something which suggested he would be staying in East London, but as we know, that means nothing. I hope we do not let Obiang to, as he is extremely underrated, and could grow into a top-class player.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 2015/16 in review: April
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 19th July 2016
By: Graeme Howlett
Join us as we take a look back at the 2015/16 season through the eyes of KUMB Editor Graeme Howlett, who penned a weekly column for the Echo newspaper throughout the campaign.
Today we look back at January and February in the penultimate part of our review...
3 April
When both sets of players and managers agree that a player has been harshly sent off, it's difficult to express sympathy with the referee. And when your team had been the victim of a string of similarly-poor calls, it's perhaps no surprise that conspiracy theories begin to emerge,
Only two people have been outspoken in their support of referee Mark Clattenburg's decision to dismiss Cheik Kouyate for a robust but fair challenge on Dwight Gayle during Saturday's 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace at the Boleyn Ground.
One was MotD's commentator, whose view can be dismissed on the basis that he claimed Kouyate went into the challenge two-footed and with studs showing - which simply didn't happen. The other was pundit and ex-Arsenal star Ian Wright, who face the Hammers in their next fixture - sans the influential Kouyate, as it stands.
At the risk of beginning to sound like a broken record, Slaven Bilic's frustration is entirely understandable. Robbed of an FA Cup semi final spot at Old Trafford and two vital Premier League points at Stamford Bridge days later thanks to dreadful decisions, West Ham's season is being affected - negatively - by bad calls from officials.
And the myth which suggests these poor decisions even themselves out over the course of the season is just that - a falsehood that simply has no evidence to support it, yet plenty to suggest otherwise.
In order to determine how much teams are affected, over at Talksport they have been compiling a list of incorrect decisions by referees throughout the season. The aforementioned conspiracists won't be shocked to see the Hammers bottom of this table, having received four incorrect calls in their favour this term - and 11 against.
Conversely, the table is topped by Manchester United (eight for, one against), Leicester (surprisingly perhaps with twelve for and seven against) and then Liverpool, Tottenham and Manchester City.
So whilst it may be going too far to suggest the game is bent - even though it has been claimed in recent days that a great number of Premier League stars have been administered performance-enhancing drugs - it seems that somehow, enough pressure is being exerted upon match officials to cause them to award marginal decisions in favour of the league's elite clubs when push comes to shove.
However the real shame about Kouyate's dismissal and Clattenburg's generally awful performance is that it completely overshadowed another incredible free kick by Dimitri Payet, who is probably the world's premier dead ball specialist at this point in time.
10 April
Slaven Bilic refused to criticise referee Craig Pawson following West Ham United's 3-3 draw against Arsenal on Saturday for fear of sounding "ridiculous".
Bilic - whose team were denied a deserved three points by yet more contentious decisions - has always been uncomfortable using his press conferences to castigate officials for their shortcomings. And it's probably just as well he opted not to examine Pawson's mistakes, as those of us in attendance may have been there all night otherwise!
Pawson - like Bobby Madley at Stamford Bridge and Martin Atkinson at Old Trafford in the weeks preceding this highly-anticipated London derby - gave virtually every 50/50 decision in favour of the visitors, including three crucial goal-related decisions that altered the course of the game.
The 36-year-old official - who was jeered off the pitch at the final whistle, much like Mark Clattenburg following the clash with Crystal Palace last weekend - ruled out a perfectly good Manuel Lanzini goal, allowed a marginally-offside Mesuit Ozil strike to stand before overturning a Dimitri Payet effort as punishment for Andy Carroll committing a foul (that was a 50/50 challenge) moments before in the build-up.
Pawson's erratic performance left Bilic and around 35,000 West Ham supporters fuming, and wondering just what could have been had the PGMOL's 'finest' performed both fairly and adequately this season.
By rights, West Ham should already be in the semi finals of the FA Cup (instead of facing a replay against Manchester United on Wednesday night) and in the top four of the Premier League - a position denied them as a result of a string of mystifyingly-poor calls.
And when former Tottenham star Gary Lineker - no great fan of the Hammers - suggests on Match of the Day that Bilic and his players have every right to feel hard done by, you know it's not simply paranoia that leads one to wonder if everything is above board here.
Sadly Pawson's shortcomings overshadowed what proved to be a thrilling London derby, the last in Upton Park and one that will be fondly remembered for Andy Carroll's stunning hat-trick - almost certainly the last ever to be scored in a competitive fixture at the Boleyn.
Unsurprisingly, the goal-fest led to renewed calls for Carroll to be reintroduced to the England squad, who are preparing for this summer's European Championships in France. Whilst I'm clearly biased, there is nobody in this country as adept in the air as the big, likeable Geordie and it'd be a smart move by Roy Hodgson to take him along.
However having seen the likes of Aaron Cresswell and the in-form Mark Noble continuously denied a crack at the national team by the myopic Hodgson, I - and thousands of fellow West Ham fans - won't be holding our breath...
17 April
Jamie Vardy became the 18th player this season to be sent off in a fixture involving West Ham as title-chasing Leicester held United to a 2-2 draw at the King Power Stadium.
And once again the main post-match talking point this weekend was the referee's performance, rather than any piece of individual skill or flash of brilliance created by one of the 22 players on show.
This week it was Jon Moss' turn to be at the centre of the controversy as he saw fit to dismiss England striker Vardy for diving (a second bookable offence), award a penalty to West Ham after Wes Morgan pushed Winston Reid at a corner and then make amends in the final minute of extra time by awarding the Foxes possibly the weakest penalty you'll ever see.
Moss, whose last game involving West Ham resulted in him erroneously dismissing Cheik Kouyate at Blackburn in the FA Cup (a decision later overturned upon appeal) enjoyed the unusual distinction of being booed off by BOTH sets of supporters following Sunday's clash at the King Power Stadium.
But the sad fact is that these incidents will continue to occur until such time as the Premier League finally see fit to introduce video technology in all areas, as the professional game - especially in the top flight where the stakes are that much higher - is rife with cheats who seek to exploit every possible avenue in order to gain their team an advantage.
Back to the match itself for a moment, where West Ham gave another excellent account of themselves despite falling behind early against a side destined to be crowned league champions this season.
Vardy's first half goal looked like being enough to earn the Foxes yet another 1-0 win until Andy Carroll slotted home from the penalty spot with full time approaching following Morgan's foul on Reid. That in itself was something of a collector's item, being as it was West Ham's first Premier League penalty away from home in some FIVE years!
When Aaron Cresswell volleyed West Ham ahead with just four minutes of normal time remaining it looked as if the Irons had done enough to secure all three points; that was until Moss' crucial intervention, as he awarded the hosts a spot kick deep into added-on time to even things up from which Leonardo Ulloa profited.
The 2-2 draw - West Ham's seventh of an exhilarating season - should be considered a good point but it does the Hammers few favours in their quest for European football next season. The Champions League is all but gone now, whilst Liverpool's game in hand gives them the edge now in the race for sixth place.
24 April
With the FA Cup semi finals in full swing, Slaven Bilic and his West Ham United squad were afforded a rare weekend off.
Although the manager and his players would no doubt have preferred to be in action on Saturday afternoon against Everton at Wembley, the recent quarter final replay defeat at the hands of Manchester United put paid to the Hammers' chances of going any further in the competition.
Of course, by rights West Ham should have been in the semi final without the need for a replay, but referee Martin Atkinson somehow failed to spot Bastian Schweinsteiger's blatant shove on goalkeeper Darren Randolph milliseconds before Anthony Martial's late, late equaliser at Old Trafford in the first meeting.
And that's been the story for West Ham in recent weeks, where a sting of mystifying decisions have essentially killed off any lingering hopes the Hammers may have harboured of qualifying for the Champions League for the first time in their history.
Whilst those may be bitter blows for Bilic, the popular Croat should take solace from a string of outstanding achievements so far season, his first as a manager in the Premier League.
Last weekend's 3-1 win against Watford extended West Ham's unbeaten run at home to 15 Premier League games, a top flight record for United. And with just four games of the season left to play the Hammers have 56 points with a positive (+14) goal difference.
That in itself may appear to be relatively unremarkable, but West Ham's record points tally in a 38-game campaign is 57, achieved on Harry Redknapp's watch nearly 20 years ago, meaning the current squad merely need one more point to match it.
And as incredible as it may seem, you have to go back to 1985/86 and the much-vaunted 'Boys of '86' to find West Ham last finishing a season in the top flight with a positive goal difference, which barring a total collapse will be emulated in a few weeks' time.
Bilic has already started making plans for the 2016/17 campaign, which will commence in August at the Olympic Stadium (which will be known as something quite different by then due to naming rights).
And it's to youth that he's currently turned, with the capture of highly-rated striker Toni Martinez (19) from Valencia and, so it seems, Portuguese midfielder Domingos Quina - still only 16 - from Chelsea's Academy.
KUMB.com exclusively revealed last month that Bilic has already moved to sign 25-year-old Norwegian defensive midfielder Havard Nordtveit from German Bundesliga side BMG; he'll replace Alex Song who is returning to Barca.
So whilst this season may not be ending quite as we'd hoped, there's still plenty of reasons to be cheerful for Bilic, his squad and us fans as the curtain begins to close on a campaign that began way back in July against Andorran minnows Lusitanos in the Europa League qualifying rounds.
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West Ham Utd 2-2 FC Slovacko
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 19th July 2016
By: Staff Writer
An entertaining pre-season friendly ended in stalemate as FC Slovacko came from two down with just five minutes to play to earn a share of the spoils. A first half strike from Mark Noble gave West Ham a half time advantage here in their latest pre-season friendly, the first of three in Austria this week. And when new signing Ashley Fletcher registered his first goal in a West Ham shirt just six minutes after entering the fray, it looked as if Slaven Bilic's side would go on to comfortably record their first win of pre-season. However two late strikes from the Czech First League side stunned the Hammers to earn a draw. The first, on 85 minutes came from Eldar Civic who forced the ball home from close range. And with just seconds of the game remaining, Slovacko gave their small but noisy band of travelling fans the perfect ending when the Bosnian midfielder grabbed his second, with substitute goalkeeper Raphael Spiegel perhaps slightly at fault. Next up for the Hammers is a potentially far tougher test against Russian Premier League side Rubin Kazan, also here in Austria, tomorrow afternoon.
West Ham Utd (starting XI): Randolph, Byram, Burke, Rice, Page, Cullen, Obiang, Noble, Samuelsen, Feghouli, Valencia.
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Sullivan expresses concern at lack of signings
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 19th July 2016
By: Staff Writer
David Sullivan has admitted that he is concerned by West Ham's inability to land any of their key summer targets. Co-owner Sullivan, speaking in an interview with Darren Lewis for the Mirror revealed that he had been left hugely frustrated at a constant stream of rejections from the likes of Michy Batshuayi, Alexandre Lacazette and Vincent Janssen already this summer. And the 67-year-old was forced to admit that it is a possibility that the Hammers may not sign any big money strikers this summer - despite the Board having earmarked a new forward as an essential requirement for the new stadium. "The problem is every striker you go for, there are 10 others clubs interested in him," said Sullivan. "So the player is just hanging about looking to get the best deal. I can't say I blame him. "In a perfect world I would like to think we will bring in a top class striker but we've all got limits on what we can pay. I am a little concerned because I'd like to have signed one by now. But it is what it is. "I would say to people if we don't bring anyone in it is not the end of the world as we were the fourth highest scorers in the Premier League last season – and we haven't lost a striker."
So far this summer Sullivan has sanctioned the purchase of Havard Nordtveit, Sofiane Feghouli, Gokhan Tore and Manuel Lanzini for the first team, whilst the highly-rated Ashley Fletcher, Toni Martinez and Domingos Quina have been added to the Academy ranks.
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Exclusive: Carroll denies injury rumours
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 19th July 2016
By: Staff Writer
Andy Carroll has told fans he is raring to go - despite reports suggesting that he could be sidelined for a matter of weeks. Carroll, who is in Austria with Slaven Bilic and the rest of the first team squad preparing for this afternoon's pre-season friendly with FC Slovacko told KUMB's Matej Mutis that rumours suggesting he is unable to play were wide of the mark. "I talked to AC for a few minutes before the training and he said he isn't injured," Bratislava-based Mutis told KUMB. "After that, he took part in full training with the squad. The only player doing individual [fitness] work was Winston Reid. However he also said that he isn't injured, but it was more like a precaution."
Unlike the recent US tour, Bilic has the bulk of his first team squad available for this week's pre-season tests against FC Slovacko (today), Rubin Kazan (tomorrow) and Karlsruher (Saturday, 23 July). The only players missing from the tour party are Euro 16 stars Dimitri Payet, James Collins and Angelo Ogbonna - plus Diafra Sakho, who reports suggest refused to travel to Austria with the rest of the squad. And according to Mutis, the team looks ready to face Slovacko later today following a strong session this morning - whilst he was particularly impressed by at least one recent signing. "It was light training (some 70 minutes) with 10 against 10 on maximum of three touches," he said. "Of course you can't judge a player after just a short period of time, but Sofiane Feghouli really has some magic in his foot. Toni Martinez looked very-promising too."
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Exclusive: Valencia tight-lipped on future
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 19th July 2016
By: Staff Writer
Hammers striker Enner Valencia refused to comment this morning when asked about his future plans. The £12million-rated Ecuador international is set to leave West Ham this summer having been made surplus to requirements by Slaven Bilic. However he refused to comment on recent speculation when confronted by KUMB's Matej Mutis this morning. "I asked Enner about his situation and he said he is not sure what will happen," said Mutis, who visited the club's training camp in Austria this morning. "When I mentioned Lazio [with whom he has been linked in recent weeks], he just smiled; I suspect he will leave as soon as we manage to sign a replacement."
Mutis, who spoke to a number of players and staff during today's training session also manged to chat with goalkeepers Adrian and Darren Randolph, the latter of whom has also been linked with a move away from West Ham this summer. "I told them 'I hope you both stay'," he added. "Randolph looked at Adrian and joked 'I'm not sure about you, but I am definitely staying' - to which Adrian replied: "I have a contract and I'm staying too!' They both seemed to get along very well."
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Manchester City make official approach to sign West Ham starlet Reece Oxford - Sky sources
By Sky Sports News HQ
Last Updated: 19/07/16 9:18pm
SSN
Manchester City have made an official approach to West Ham about signing youngster Reece Oxford, Sky sources understand. However, City have denied to Sky Sports News HQ that that is the case. Oxford, the 17-year-old central midfielder who shot into the public eye in an impressive display against Arsenal on the opening day of last season, is understood to be valued at £15m by the Hammers. Sky sources understand that the East London club have already turned down a £10m bid for Oxford from Bundesliga club Red Bull Leipzig, while Newcastle have requested to take him on a season-long loan. Oxford rejected a new contract at West Ham at the end of last season, with his current deal still carrying him through to 2018. He made his Hammers debut in the Europa League first qualifying round in July 2015 following Slaven Bilic's arrival as manager, and then became the youngest Premier League player when he started against the Gunners last summer.
He has since played a further 11 games for West Ham but his last may have come as a substitute in the 3-0 win over West Brom at the Hawthorns on April 30.
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West Ham blow two-goal lead against Czech minnows Slovacko to remain winless in pre-season
19:11, 19 JUL 2016 UPDATED 19:11, 19 JUL 2016
BY JACK RATHBORN
Mark Noble and Ashley Fletcher gave the Hammers a two-goal lead but the Synot Liga side stormed back late on to earn a 2-2 draw
The Mirror
West Ham squandered a superb opportunity to pick up their first victory of pre-season with FC Slovacko grabbing two late goals to earn a draw. Mark Noble had given Slaven Bilic's side the lead in the first half when he expertly adjusted his body to slam home a half-volley from the edge of the area into the bottom right corner. Bilic sprinkled plenty of young talent throughout the friendly and was duly rewarded when youngsters Domingos Quina and Ashley Fletcher combined for the latter to double West Ham's lead early in the second half. Quina - who recently signed from Chelsea - sent over a looping cross that Fletcher - a new recruit from Manchester United - converted with a glancing header. West Ham unravelled in the final 10 minutes though with Eldar Civic grabbing a late double to stun the east Londoners. Bilic will not have long to correct mistakes though with West Ham set to take on Rubin Kazan on Wednesday.
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West Ham stars 'duped by conman who lured them in with promise of cut-price Christmas hampers'
Telegraph Reporters
19 JULY 2016 • 3:14PM
The Telegraph
A West Ham employee has told a court he was duped into inviting an alleged conman into the club to sell luxury goods and hampers which never materialised. Player liaison officer Tim De'Ath arranged for a man who called himself Mark Kingston to set up a stall at the football club's training ground after being given his number by then team captain Kevin Nolan. Stephen Ackerman, 48, is accused of defrauding former West Ham manager Sam Allardyce and 12 other players and staff, also including England striker Andy Carroll, out of thousands of pounds by selling them Christmas hampers which were never delivered. Ackerman, of Loughton, Essex, denies 19 charges of fraud, with the alleged proceeds amounting to a total of more than £60,000. The defence argue that Ackerman, who was picked out by Mr De'Ath in an identity parade, was not the man who purported to be Mark Kingston. Mr De'Ath told jurors at Snaresbrook Crown Court that many of the players bought discounted hampers and champagne as Christmas presents from Mr Kingston on December 12 2014. He said: "I ordered three cases of Laurent Perrier champagne and six bottles of Cristal champagne but I never actually paid for anything. "I think the Cristal champagne was a lot cheaper than what you could get it for in the shops. "Most people that actually ordered stuff from him paid on their cards using a chip and pin machine. "A lot of them said they were for Christmas presents so obviously to get them before Christmas."
Ackerman appeared in court wearing a dark suit, white shirt and maroon tie, and took notes throughout the hearing. Prosecutor Richard Milne said he arrived at the club "with all the trappings of a successful businessman", driving a black Range Rover and sporting a silver watch, before tempting staff and players with heavily discounted hampers containing Belgian chocolates, Yorkshire crisps and champagne. He then used a chip and pin machine to obtain the details of several of those who paid by card and access their accounts, Mr Milne said. Mr De'Ath said he was told the goods would be delivered the following Monday, December 15. When he phoned Mr Kingston that day to chase them, he was told the delivery had been delayed because of "the amount of orders".
Mr Kingston said he had spoken to Harrods and Fortnum & Mason. Mr De'Ath said when he contacted Mr Kingston about the delivery, he was given a number to track the orders, but when he searched for it online "there was no such number". The website address he was given, http://www.designerhampers.com, then disappeared from the internet when he checked it on Saturday December 20. Mr De'Ath said he tried to contact Mr Kingston again but by then "his phone had then gone as well - there was no dialling tone to the phone ... I couldn't get in contact with him at all".
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Slaven Bilic takes West Ham training hours before friendly in Austria as new signing Toni Martinez enjoys an ice bath
Andy Carroll and Mark Noble trained hours before West Ham's next friendly
Hammers face Czech side Slovacko at 5pm on Tuesday in Austria
New signing Toni Martinez enjoyed an ice bath at West Ham's Austria base
Carroll said he is relishing pre-season after missing out in recent years
By RORY BRIGSTOCK-BARRON FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 14:45, 19 July 2016 | UPDATED: 14:45, 19 July 2016
West Ham are cutting no corners as they prepare for their first season at the Olympic Stadium as Slaven Bilic had his players out on the training pitch just hours before their next friendly. Still searching for their first victory of pre-season after a defeat and a draw during their tour of the US, the Hammers face Czech side Slovacko at 5pm on Tuesday.
But Andy Carroll and co were put through their paces at their training camp in Bad Tatzmannsdorf, Austria, despite the upcoming fixture. While some of Bilic's players went through ball work in small groups, new signing Toni Martinez gave the thumbs up from an ice bath. The 19-year-old, who scored more than 100 goals in four seasons in Valencia's youth sides, sealed a £2.4million move from Spain in spring and already look initiated into the squad. Tuesday's clash is the first of three friendlies in eastern Europe with fixtures against Rubin Kazan and German team Karlsruher SC. With the friendly against Rubin Kazan coming on Wednesday it is likely that those who underwent the more vigorous training on Tuesday will feature against Kazan rather than the same-day clash with Slovacko.
Carroll, who many thought should have been selected as part of England's Euro 2016 squad, said he was enjoying pre-season after missing out over the last few years due to injuries.
'I can't wait [for the start of the season],' he told whufc.com. 'It's been a long time since I had a pre-season, so I'm really looking forward to starting the new season and before that the Europa League game that's coming up. 'I felt strong at the end of last season. I was injured for a bit at the start, but I came back and felt good. 'I scored some goals, was involved in important games and just want to carry that on this year. 'I'm feeling good. Coming out to Austria and getting myself fit is important. I might miss a couple of games in pre-season just to keep myself fresh and not rush into things, but I'm looking forward to it.
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West Ham winger set off 'Tore-ing' trend in Turkey
Posted by Emre Sarigul July 19, 2016
www.turkish-football.com
West Ham signed Gokhan Tore on a one-year loan move from Besiktas at the start of the month after a lengthy transfer saga. Tore has joined his new teammates for pre-season and is busy preparing for the Premier League campaign. The Turkish international winger scored his first ever league goal under the stewardship of current West Ham boss Slaven Bilic – who was previously in charge of Besiktas. Tore set off a trend in Turkey with his goal celebration which simply became known as Töre-ing. The celebration involves covering ones face with your hand. The 24-year-old revealed the reason behind his celebration shortly after. Tore stated that it was a game his grandmother played with him as a child. Tore was given up for adoption shortly after his birth in Koln, Germany. His grandparents were however, able to win back custody when he was two and hold a special place in his life.
It was his grandfather Sabri who introduced him to football. Tore grew up in a rough part of town but his grandfather made sure he focused on football, taking him to training every week until he passed away aged 14. His final wish was for Tore to play for the Turkish national team and just a year later he broke into the setup makings debut on August 10 2011.
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West Ham insist transfer of Diafra Sakho cannot happen until they have signed a striker
22:30, 18 JUL 2016 UPDATED 23:30, 18 JUL 2016
BY DARREN LEWIS
The Senegal frontman wants to go and clubs at home and abroad are keen but the Hammers missed out on Michy Batshuayi and are now waiting on Carlos Bacca
The Mirror
Diafra Sakho has been warned by West Ham that he will not leave the club unless they first sign a replacement. Senegal striker Sakho's relationship with the east Londoners has broken down, and he has been accused of refusing to fly out for their pre-season trip to Austria. The 26-year-old also handed in a transfer request at the start of the month, after West Ham rejected an £11million bid for him from Sunderland. And Sakho remained in the UK, complaining of illness, when West Ham toured the USA at the start of pre-season.
West Brom, Germany's Hamburg and Spanish side Sevilla are also interested in him. But Hammers chairman David Sullivan - who sold defender James Tomkins to Crystal Palace earlier this month - has insisted the club will not be bullied into flogging Sakho unless it suits them. Sullivan said: "He is not for sale until we get players in. Until we bring strikers in, we simply cannot let strikers go. "James Tomkins was different because we had a surplus in the centre-half department. But until we get at least a couple of strikers we can't let any forward go."
West Ham are continuing to wait on a decision from AC Milan striker Carlos Bacca after agreeing a £26m fee with the Italian club. Bacca wants parity with £125,000-a-week Dimitri Payet. West Ham have offered the Colombia international around £90,000-a-week. The 29-year-old was given time to consider the package after last week's talks, and is understood to be hoping Atletico Madrid make a counter-offer for him. Atletico only view him as their Plan B though, as they are pinning their hopes on persuading Chelsea to sell Diego Costa back to them. Sullivan added: "The problem is every striker you go for, there are 10 others clubs interested in him. So the player is just hanging about looking to get the best deal. I can't say I blame him."
The West Ham supremo has, however, moved to reassure fans concerned that he has not yet landed any of their striker targets. A deal was agreed for Marseille's Michy Batshuayi but then Chelsea swooped at the last minute to land the Belgian for £33m. Lyon have demanded more than £40m for France international Alexandre Lacazette, and the player himself has made it clear he will only leave for a club playing in the Champions League. Sullivan went on: "I would say to people if we don't bring anyone in it is not the end of the world as we were the fourth highest scorers in the Premier League last season – and we haven't lost a striker. "In a perfect world I would like to think we will bring in a top class striker but we've all got limits on what we can pay. "I am a little concerned because I'd like to have signed one by now. But it is what it is."
Sullivan has also insisted the Hammers' England frontman Andy Carroll will not leave, despite interest from several clubs. The 27-year-old scored nine goals during an injury-ravaged campaign last season, and Sullivan said: "Andy has just had the best six months he has ever had for the club and now he has had a couple of operations he should be over all his injuries. "So hopefully he should have an injury-free season and get 15-20 goals.
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West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady gives Sportsmail an exclusive tour of Olympic Stadium ahead of opening match
Head of Sport Lee Clayton is impressed with West Ham's new ground
Hammers chief Karren Brady led the way as she showed Sportsmail around
The name of every season ticket holder will be placed on interior walls
Supporters will be able to order food and drink via a mobile phone app
By LEE CLAYTON FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 12:26, 19 July 2016 | UPDATED: 12:31, 19 July 2016
'Yes, the stadium is beautiful. Nothing is ever perfect, but it's as close as we can get, but nobody is going to be saying "nice stadium Karren, shame about the team" if we do not take the opportunity to grow and improve.' So Karren Brady begins her personal tour of West Ham's new home. Just the two of us and few thousand builders still putting the finishing touches to areas such as the dressing room – initially chosen and designed by Sam Allardyce to replicate Real Madrid, but since stripped and redesigned by Slaven Bilic. Now it will look like West Ham's. I'll declare here and now: I like the stadium and I like what Karren Brady has done for West Ham. No, she didn't ask me to say that. Yes, I pay for my season tickets at the same price as everyone else. Yes, the legacy of the stadium was a mess from the start when athletics thought they could sustain it post-Olympics. Yes, West Ham have got an outrageously desirable deal.
Of course there are concerns about the running track and the distance from the pitch that is the greatest concern for all the locals, but having checked out various levels on my
visit, the views ('sight lines') are impressive and it's a small price to pay, if you'll excuse the pun. Wait until you've sat in it before you make up your mind. This was an invite to a private tour with the lady who has made the tenancy possible and is the first time I've attended the stadium in four years. I also understand what Upton Park means to West Ham supporters. I've been going there for more than 35 years too. The new place will take some getting used to. The former Olympic Stadium feels like a 'Cup Final' venue at present, a day out occasion, rather than a regular residence, but Brady and her team are still working on adding more claret and blue, more finishing touches. The walls inside, for instance, will have the name of every one of the 52,000 season ticket holders from the inaugural season. A clever idea.
There will be a welcome pack to help supporters to settle in, while guidance has been sought from other clubs who have moved into new stadia in recent times. Arsenal have been especially helpful and there is certainly a comparison to be had with the Emirates decor in the multiple bars and function rooms. One important piece of advice offered is that how you visit the stadium the first time will shape habits of the future. West Ham, as with on the pitch, know a strong start would be most useful to expel doubters. Brady also knows this is a chance to change perceptions. 'This stadium gives us an opportunity to help everyone think differently about West Ham. We have a modern stadium in London that I hope will make our supporters proud,' she said, wandering through the new club superstore. 'The culture that Slaven Bilic has brought to the club is that everyone looks up, not down.
'With that in mind, we have refurbished the training ground at Rush Green that will now become first team only. We have four new pitches laid, a warm up area, a warm down area. You name it. We are revising our levels across the club. 'When players come here, I want them to think that we are a club going places.' This is certainly not Upton Park.
In a challenging summer transfer market where finding a 20-goal striker is proving difficult, West Ham have kept all the players they wanted to keep, especially Dimitri Payet, who will not be allowed to go. There has been no contact from prospective takers but none has been sought, whatever the fee potential following his exciting Euro rendition.
It's impossible to imagine what the stadium might be like with Payet leading the play and 60,000 supporters, including 52,000 season tickets holders showing their appreciation. Or what it will be like to travel to and from the stadium. They are the next hurdles to overcome. I returned to King's Cross after my visit in six minutes by Javelin train. Tube and overground links to Stratford's travel hub are regular and with multiple options, which is important for allcomers, home and away.
The referee's room is larger than most, which West Ham fans may smile at given the decisions at the back end of last season which cost them points and games. Supporters attending the European tie on August 4 or the prestige friendly with Juventus three days later should arrive early. As with Wembley, this appears to be a stadium where fans can enjoy the hospitality in comfort and watching big screens, a long way from the dilapidation (and tiny concourse TVs) of their old stamping ground. Pricing of food and refreshments, of course, will be crucial to this plan. Supporters can order ahead for food and drink from an app and a multi-million pound investment in a Wi-Fi system - ready in October - should help this ambitious idea.
So it seems West Ham are almost ready, once the arena comes out of 'athletics mode' following the Anniversary Games, but are West ham fans ready for their new adventure? 'You say some West Ham supporters like to live in the past, talk about the glory days, but this is an opportunity to look to the future with ambition and pride. I believe the supporters will love the stadium, the players will be inspired,' Karren adds. 'OK, away teams may be inspired to play here too, but what do you want me to do about that? All home grounds give the home team an advantage. 'By the time the season starts, there will be no doubt that this is West Ham's new home. 'It will be truly ready for the opening Premier League home game against Bournemouth and hopefully fully ready in time for the home Europa League match and the opening ceremony against Juventus. We have work to do still, but I'm calm. I showed my board around last week and wanted to wait until it had got to this stage. 'For the first two games it will operate below normal capacity, at 54,000. They are not test events as they are proper events, but we will also use those for our fans to get a feel for the new stadium; locating their seats, working out where to go, where are the nearest toilets, that sort of thing.' The move will take some getting used to for many, beyond the inevitable teething problems. Not everyone embraces change.
WEST HAM'S FIRST FEW CONFIRMED FIXTURES AT THEIR NEW HOME
West Ham vs Juventus - August 7
West Ham vs Bournemouth - August 21
West Ham vs Watford - September 10
West Ham vs Southampton - September 25
West Ham vs Middlesbrough - October 1
For instance, it still takes 11 days for the stadium to go from athletics to football mode, although all hope that will become seven days thanks to a new 'skate system' which speeds up the moving of the seats and has been purchased. With that in mind, West Ham have already applied for their first two games next season to be away from home, following the World Athletics Championship. 'That comes with the territory,' Brady says, comfortable with the share. She has found little if any problems with her athletics partners.
One of the walls inside shows medals won here by Olympians as well as West Ham's World Cup titans and trophy winners. 'There's space for a few more, isn't there?', she motions.
'People say "the seats look far away" but it is still in athletics mode. 'Look, this is our new home and we have done all that we can to make it as comfortable as possible for our supporters and football-ready. I hope they will be proud, as I am.' A safe standing area was ruled out early. 'I spent enough time standing as a kid when I couldn't see to believe comfortable seating is the way forward.' This stadium is the way forward for West Ham. Not everyone will agree, but as someone said here in its old guise as the Olympic Stadium, let the games begin.
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David Sullivan offers update on West Ham's pursuit of Carlos Bacca
HITC
Olly Dawes
David Sullivan remains hopeful that Carlos Bacca could sign for West Ham. West Ham United co-chairman David Sullivan has told The Mirror that AC Milan striker Carlos Bacca is 'hanging about looking to get the best deal'. The Hammers have been searching for a big-name striker all summer, but have so far been left frustrated in their attempts to snap up a proven goalscorer. Their current target appears to be AC Milan star Carlos Bacca, who has established himself as one of the top strikers in Europe over the last three years.
Colombian international Bacca, 29, hit 49 goals in 108 games for Sevilla following a 2013 move from Club Brugge, and helped the La Liga side win two Europa League titles before heading to AC Milan last summer. With 20 goals in his first season with the Italian giants, Bacca again proved just how good he is in front of goal - and he seems to have attracted the interest of West Ham. - AC Milan's Carlos Bacca celebrates after scoring a goal.
Italian newspaper Gazzetta Dello Sport recently claimed that Bacca has turned down a switch to the Olympic Stadium after West Ham agreed a €30m (£25m) fee with Milan - but there may still be hope for the Hammers yet. The Mirror report that Bacca is hoping for a late move from Atletico Madrid, but they're prioritising a deal to re-sign Chelsea hitman Diego Costa, leaving West Ham co-chairman David Sullivan to retain hope that Bacca will move to East London. Sullivan told The Mirror that Bacca is 'hanging about' and looking for the best deal right now, and doesn't blame the player for weighing up his options. "The problem is every striker you go for, there are 10 others clubs interested in him," said Sullivan. "So the player is just hanging about looking to get the best deal. I can't say I blame him," he added.
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West Ham to battle Leicester as part of double striker swoop
WEST HAM are facing competition from Leicester for Toulouse's Wissam Ben Yedder, according to reports.
Daily Star
By Joel Watson / Published 19th July 2016
The Guardian say both clubs have been in touch with the Ligue 1 player's representatives as they sound him out over a summer move. The Hammers have been searching hard for more attacking talent this window, but look to have failed in capturing one of their first choice targets: Michy Batshuayi, Alexandre Lacazette and Christian Benteke. But a move for Ben Yedder could mean Slaven Bilic's side have two new players leading the line next season, as they also look close to securing Argentian striker Jonathan Calleri on a year-long loan.
How West Ham could line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation if they signed James Rodriguez
Monday, 18th July 2016
THIS is how West Ham's starting XI could look next season if they were to complete a sensational £67m move for James Rodriguez.
1 / 18
GK: Adrian - The Spanish stopper has proven himself to be a generally dependable keeper, although prone to the occasional mistake
RB: Michail Antonio - The number of wingers at the club suggests he could be deployed in defence again. Although shaky at the back at times, the Hammers haven't been linked with many right-backs, so perhaps Slav trusts him there
CB: Angelo Ogbonna - The strong and dependable centre-back should start at the heart of the defence for the Hammers next season
CB: Winston Reid - The defensively brave New Zealander should slot in alongside Ogbonna
LB: Aaron Cresswell - Impressive again last season and always looked dangerous going forward. There's very little competition for his place
CM: Mark Noble - Enjoyed some of his best days in a West Ham shirt last season, the skipper can run the game from the middle of the park on his day
CM: Cheikhou Kouyate - A monster of a player. The tough central midfielder should be one of the first names on the team sheet
RM: James Rodriguez - The £67m-rated superstar would cause carnage in a fluid attacking midfield system alongside Payet and Lanzini
CAM: Manuel Lanzini - The creative Hammers playmaker is a delight to watch and should keep his place in the team
LM: Dimitri Payet - So much of West Ham's potential success could depend on if they keep Payet. He's silenced all the doubters and has proven himself to be one of the best players in Europe
CF: Jonathan Calleri - West Ham look set to sign the Argentinian striker on a one-year loan deal after missing out on the likes of Bacca and Lacazette
SUB 1: Darren Randolph - A good backup to Adrian, Randolph will be trusted in cup matches and can be relied upon if the No. 1 is injured or suspended
SUB 2: James Collins - The commanding defender always gives his all and is a brilliant man to have in the changing room. Reece Burke should also find himself on the bench occasionally. Tomkins has now left
SUB 3: Sam Byram - Bilic clearly doesn't quite trust Byram fully yet but he should get some opportunities if a new right-back isn't signed. Hammers fans will be hoping to see more of their wonderkid Oxford too
SUB 4: Havard Nordtveit - The new signing should provide cover for the defensive midfield position
SUB 5: Pedro Obiang - The decent, all-round central midfielder can provide good backup
SUB 6: Gokhan Tore - Besiktas have confirmed that Tore has joined the Hammers on loan. Should be a brilliant piece of business. Exciting youngster Martin Samuelsen should also get a few chances
SUB 7: Andy Carroll - Found a brilliant run of form towards the end of last season. One of the best headers in world football, Carroll gives West Ham another option when chasing a game late on
Ben Yedder is approaching the final year of his contract with Toulouse and is expected to cost £8.3m. He was in fine form last year, scoring 17 league goals despite his side almost being relegated, surviving the drop by just one point. The Daily Mail claim Lazio have made a bid for Valencia. And earlier in the month they said Sakho had handed in a transfer request.
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Zinedine Zidane opens the door for Chelsea and West Ham in James Rodriguez pursuit
HITC
Damien Lucas
Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane looks to have opened the door to the likes of West Ham United and Chelsea who have interest in his fringe players. The Hammers have been linked with a shock record bid for Colombian star James Rodriguez as have London rivals Chelsea, as reported by respected Spanish outlet Marca. The record TV deal, increased revenue from having 52,000 season ticket holders - second only to Manchester United - money from the £10m sale of James Tomkins to Crystal Palace and potentially another £20-25m to come from the prospective sales of Enner Valencia and Diafra Sakho mean West Ham are cash rich this summer. Meanwhile Chelsea are backing new boss Antonio Conte with major funds in a bid to return to their former glory and have already signed Leicester City's N'Golo Kante and Michy Batshuayi for a combined total of more than £60 million.
Big bid can lure fading star
Marca reports that any club which matches the Colombian star's £67 million price tag would get the chance to speak to the player who is interested in a move to the Premier League having dropped down the Los Blancos pecking order. And now Rodriguez's manager Zidane has hinted he will need to trim his bloated squad this summer in a pre-season press conference ahead of Real Madrid's International Cup friendlies in Montreal, as reported by Sky Sports. 'It gives you problems' "A large squad gives you a few more problems but that comes with the territory as Real Madrid coach," Zidane said. "I have to play the most competitive side I can and I'll do the same thing this season, that's my responsibility."
If the Hammers and Blues do go head-to-head for James' signature the West Londoners would be clear favourites.
Hammers can trump favourites Blues with Bacca-up plan?
But West Ham co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold are desperate to land a marquee signing ahead of the club's big move to the 60,000 Olympic Stadium this summer. And should Slaven Bilic manage to tempt James' Colombia teammate Carlos Bacca to East London it may well help sway any decision on his future.
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Where can I watch West Ham's friendly with FC Slovacko?
By matt_harris | Posted: July 19, 2016
essexchronicle.co.uk
Cheikhou Kouyate is back after playing in African Cup of Nations qualifiers for Senegal. West Ham fans unable to make the trip to Austria will get to watch the first friendly of their tour on TV this evening. The Hammers take on Czech First League side FC Slovacko at the Stadion Rohrbach in Rohrbach, but the match will be screened live in the UK on Premier Sports, which is available on Sky, channel 428, Virgin 551 and TalkTalk. Kick-off is at 5pm. West Ham head into the match with Dimitri Payet still resting after his Euro 2016 efforts with France, while Diafra Sakho has refused to travel and there are question marks over Andy Carroll's fitness. Michail Antonio and Gorkhan Tore have linked up with the squad after missing the US tour, while Darren Randolph is the first of the club's Euro 2016 players to feature in pre-season. Enner Valencia has resumed training following his involvement with Ecuador in the Copa America, as has Cheikhou Kouyate, who has been playing African Cup of Nations qualifiers with Senegal.
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West Ham confirm Europa League third qualifying round fixture date reversed by Uefa
SAM LONG
Evening Standard
West Ham have confirmed they will play their first ever game at the Olympic Stadium on Thursday, August 4 after Uefa agreed to rearrange the club's Europa League third qualifying round fixtures. The Hammers were drawn against Shakhtyor Soligorsk or NK Domzale on Friday and had been originally expected to host their opponents on Thursday, July 28. But with a UK Athletics event set to take place at the Stratford venue between July 21-24 the stadium owners E20 Stadium LLP would have been left without the week needed to prepare the ground for football. West Ham asked Uefa to reverse the fixtures, with the permission of both of their potential opponents, which the governing body has now granted. A statement on the club's official website read: "The Hammers' agreement with both potential opponents to reverse the tie was given the go-ahead by UEFA on Monday, with the first leg being now being played away from home on 28 July. "The second will take place at the London Stadium - West Ham's first-ever fixture at the Club's new home - at 7.45pm on Thursday 4 August."
Ticket prices for the east Londoners' opening game at their new home have also been released, with fans able to see Slaven Bilic's side in action for as little at £10. West Ham originally planned to open the stadium in a glamour friendly against Juventus on Sunday, August 7, but must now fulfil their Europa League obligations for the Europa League prior to their date with the Serie A champions. Bilic's side finished seventh in the Premier League last term, which was enough to secure a place in Europe's secondary club competition after Manchester United won the FA Cup at the expense of Crystal Palace.
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Michail Antonio explains what will be crazy at West Ham next season
HITC
Michael Stevenson
The fan favourite can't wait to experience life at the Olympic Stadium. West Ham winger Michail Antonio has spoken of his awe at the club's new stadium, in an interview with whufc.com. The 26-year old was a surprise success last season after arriving from Nottingham Forest in the summer and he can't wait to strut his stuff at the Olympic Stadium.
West Ham's co owner David Gold poses outside the construction of the Olympic Stadium. "I didn't realise how big the stadium was until I got inside," said Antonio. "It is massive and hopefully the fans can create the same atmosphere that we had at the Boleyn Ground. "It is crazy that I will be playing in front of 60,000 fans every week. To have those fans pushing us every week will help us throughout the season. "Hopefully I can get the fans going with some more goals and I want the fans to send me ideas on what new ones I can do for them!" he added. Antonio joined the Hammers at the very end of last summer's transfer window for around £7 million – according to Sky Sports – and after initially struggling to break into the first-team, he soon became one of Slaven Bilic's key men. The energetic wide man appeared 32 times for the Hammers, scoring nine goals and grabbing three assists in the process, with some even calling for his inclusion in the England squad for Euro 2016. He will be hopeful of building upon his success next term and with new signing Gokhan Tore primarily operating on the right flank he will have to be on top form to retain his place. West Ham enjoyed an excellent campaign overall last season but will find it difficult to better their 7th place finish with the likes of Liverpool and Chelsea prepared to spend big to strengthen this summer.
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West Ham's Andy Carroll suffering with groin injury: Hitman set to miss European qualifier
WEST HAM have suffered another setback in their striking department with Andy Carroll set for a short spell on the sidelines.
By JACK STAPLEHURST
PUBLISHED: 22:34, Mon, Jul 18, 2016 | UPDATED: 22:49, Mon, Jul 18, 2016
Express.co.uk
The Hammers hitman is claimed to be having issues with his groin, adding to Slaven Bilic's problems in attack. Diafra Sakho has refused to travel with the team on their current pre-season tour to Austria as he seeks a move away from the club this summer. And while Enner Valencia is also edging towards an exit, Carlos Bacca is no closer to joining as he stalls on a £26million switch to east London from AC Milan. Carroll is one of few senior options upfront at the Hammers' disposal as things stand. And although he's travelled with the squad to train in Austria, Jack Sullivan - son of co-chairman David Sullivan - has confirmed on Twitter Carroll is out for up to two weeks. Website Claret & Hugh claim Carroll went for scans on Thursday morning at hospital due to feeling discomfort in his groin. With West Ham facing three friendlies this week, the England striker is not expected to feature as a result. Carroll's history of injury problems will lead the Hammers to be cautionary over his latest small blow. It could now be a race against time to see him fit for European action too, with Europa League qualifiers fast approaching. West Ham's third round of qualifying first leg tie is scheduled for July 28, meaning Carroll is more likely to feature in the return game and first ever fixture at the Olympic Stadium on August 4. Carroll is determined to push on this season though and get regular, extended action under his belt. "I felt strong at the end of last season, Carroll said. "I was injured for a bit at the start, but I came back and felt good. I scored some goals, was involved in important games and just want to carry that on this year. "I'm feeling good. Coming out to Austria and getting myself fit is important. I might miss a couple of games in pre-season just to keep myself fresh and not rush into things, but I'm looking forward to it."
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Injury-prone Andy Carroll leaves West Ham in a predicament ahead of Europa clash
HITC
Damien Lucas
West Ham United are struggling to bring in a top level striker ahead of their big Olympic Stadium move but can Slaven Bilic afford to rely on Andy Carroll? Jack Sullivan, son of Hammers co-owner David, confirmed rumours doing the rounds on social media this week that Carroll has picked up an injury and will miss around two weeks of key pre-season training.
The injury will also likely rule Carroll out of West Ham's crucial two-legged Europa League third qualifying round clash with either Belarus side Shaktyor Soligorsk or Slovenian minnows Domzale on July 28th and August 4th. It leaves Bilic in a real predicament having so far failed to land any of his prime striker targets after bids for Michy Batshuayi, Alexandre Lacazette and Carlos Bacca proved fruitless. Add in the fact both Enner Valencia and the rebellious Diafra Sakho look likely to be moved on with Lazio and Swansea pursuing the Ecaudorian and Sunderland chasing wantaway Sakho and it is difficult to see where West Ham's goals are going to come from. The Hammers were dumped out of last year's competition by minnows FC Astra in the same round they enter it this time out so cannot afford to take anything for granted. No-one is doubting the target man's work ethic. But it is a story West Ham fans have heard all too often before. When Carroll was signed on loan from Anfield by Sam Allardyce in 2012, it seemed a match made in heaven. The club even inexplicably wasted more than £10million on flop Matt Jarvis to provide the ammunition for the 6ft 4 star. Here was a player who cost Liverpool a record £35 million just the year before leading the attack at the Boleyn. Things could not have started much better for the big Geordie as he set up two goals during a towering display in 3–0 home win against Fulham. But a lengthy injury, two words that have cast a shadow over the 26-year-old's career so far, restricted him to just 24 appearances and seven goals that season. He made a long awaited comeback in the following February and scored the only goal in a 1-0 win over Swansea. But in the last game of that season at home to Reading, he was injured yet again.
The benefit of hindsight
Nevertheless the Hammers were unperturbed and pressed ahead with sanctioning an £18 million permanent deal on a six-year contract. It is a deal which outspoken West Ham co-owner David Sullivan has since admitted he wouldn't have done with the benefit of hindsight, as reported by BBC's Football Focus. Three seasons on, and four long-term injuries later, Carroll has become little more than an expensive bonus for West Ham. He always gives 100% and even told the London Evening Standard last season that he blames his full-blooded approach for the injuries he has suffered. When he is fit and firing there are not many better all-round forwards in the Premier League. But that is half the problem, he very rarely is. In the three seasons since making his move to Upton Park permanent, Carroll has made just 56 appearances, scoring 16 goals. The Hammers are taking the Europa League seriously this season and without him it makes qualifying that bit more difficult, even if the East Londoners should have enough quality to advance without him. Many West Ham fans have started to give up on the club's most expensive ever signing and Bilic clearly recognises the need to bring in more firepower. If the Hammers are to better their seventh place finish this season they simply cannot afford to rely on Carroll week in week out.
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West Ham tell wantaway striker Diafra Sakho he will not be sold until replacements have been brought in
Diafra Sakho handed in a transfer request as he looks to leave this summer
Striker refused to travel with the squad for their pre-season training camp
West Ham are on the hunt for a big-name forward replace him
Chief David Sullivan says Sakho will not be sold until they have found one
By KIERAN GILL FOR THE DAILY MAIL
PUBLISHED: 22:30, 18 July 2016 | UPDATED: 00:10, 19 July 2016
West Ham have told wantaway striker Diafra Sakho he will not be sold until replacements have been brought in. The 26-year-old refused to travel with West Ham's squad for their pre-season training camp in Austria and handed in a transfer request as he looks to leave this summer. It is no secret that West Ham are searching for a big-name striker but talks between the London club and Carlos Bacca's representatives have cooled. Bacca wanted to become West Ham's best-paid player alongside Dimitri Payet on £120,000 per week – double what the 29-year-old is currently paid by AC Milan – and that deal does not look close to concluding. David Sullivan, the club's co-owner, admits he is 'concerned' over their lack of additions in attack but had a word of warning for Sakho as he persists with his protest. 'He is not for sale until we get players in,' Sullivan told Sportsmail. Until we bring strikers in we simply cannot let strikers go. 'James Tomkins was different because we had a surplus in the centre-half department. But until we get at least a couple of strikers we can't let any forward go.' Sunderland had a £12million bid rejected for Sakho but are still interested in the Senegal international. They have competition, though, with West Bromwich Albion, Crystal Palace, Swansea City and Newcastle United also in the frame for the player with 15 goals in 43 appearances in the Premier League. Sullivan feels this is as 'barmy' a transfer window he can remember and insists it is tougher than ever to sign a striker. 'The problem is every striker you go for there are 10 others clubs interested in him,' Sullivan added. So the player is just hanging about looking to get the best deal. I can't say I blame him. 'I would say to people if we don't bring anyone in it is not the end of the world as we were the fourth highest scorers in the Premier League last season – and we haven't lost a striker. 'In a perfect world I would like to think we will bring in a top class striker but we've all got limits on what we can pay.' Asked if he is worried, Sullivan said: 'I am a little concerned because I'd like to have signed one by now. But it is what it is.' On Andy Carroll, who last season scored nine goals in 27 appearances in the Premier League, Sullivan said the forward is back to his best following injury problems. 'Andy has just had the best six months he has ever had for the club and now he has had a couple of operations he should be over all his injuries,' Sullivan said.
'So hopefully he should have an injury-free season and get 15 or 20 goals.'
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